Newcastle 1-0 Everton: The Toons lost but Manchester United’s win over Aston Villa ensured Champions League qualification
For nearly 90 minutes at St James’s Park, the party that Newcastle had meticulously planned looked like it might never start. The Toons were surprisingly flat, nervy and second-best for large swathes of their final-day clash with Everton.
Carlos Alcaraz’s second-half header for the visitors silenced the stadium and briefly cast a shadow over Newcastle’s European dream. But news filtering through from Old Trafford, where Manchester United were in front against Aston Villa, ultimately reignited the mood, and by the time the final whistle below, Newcastle supporters were jubilant despite defeat.
The team have been brilliant this season. They’ve done it the hard way at times. They’ve won games with their manager in hospital. This was a campaign that included silverware in March, when they edged out champions Liverpool at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup, their first domestic trophy since 1955. Prior to kick-off, a gigantic banner hung from the giant Gallowgate End, reading, “You entered the pitch as players, you left it as legends” in celebration of the squad’s accomplishments.
Nothing was ever going to change that, but Eddie Howe’s were close to quite the anti-climactic end to the campaign. Everton, revitalised under David Moyes, were organised and energetic. Shorn of any responsibility, they played with a freedom that was alien to the Toons.
Their goal in the 65th minute came when Vitalii Mykolenko looped in a cross that seemed to slow time and pin the home side’s defenders, and Alcaraz rose up unbothered to nod past Nick Pope. At that point, Newcastle were sixth in live standings.
Panic gripped the stands. For long spells, Howe’s side looked like a team paralysed. Bruno Guimares and Sandro Tonali were outmanoeuvred in midfield at times. Alexander Isak cut a frustrated figure up front. Schar unleashed a belter from outside the area late in the second half; it would have been a brilliant moment but it sailed just wide.
As word spread that Aston Villa had gone behind at Old Trafford, however, a cautious optimism returned. By the final whistle, that optimism had turned into full celebrations.
