Anthony Gordon’s controversial penalty and subsequent goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for Newcastle United against Manchester City at St James’ Park, dealing a blow to the reigning champions’ Premier League title push.
The game’s defining moment came when Gordon raced towards goal and was brought down after City goalkeeper Ederson slid at his feet.
Although there appeared to be only minimal contact, referee Simon Hooper awarded a penalty.
Speaking on Soccer Saturday’, former Premier League referee Mike Dean weighed in on the incident, saying, “I don’t think it’s a penalty.”
Ederson received a booking, with the officials ruling that he had made a “genuine attempt to play the ball but [denying] an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.”
With Newcastle’s two primary strikers, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, sidelined due to injury, Gordon was deployed as a makeshift centre forward. He coolly converted the penalty, sending Ederson the wrong way to equalize.
Manchester City had chances to reclaim the lead, most notably through substitute Phil Foden, who saw his effort from an Erling Haaland flick comfortably saved by Nick Pope.
Pope was called into action again later in the match, making a crucial stop from a powerful strike by Bernardo Silva.
Overall, though, it was a lackluster performance from Pep Guardiola’s side, who seemed to miss the creative influence of key absentees Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.
City, however, had taken the lead earlier in the first half through Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian left-back slotted home into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area, following excellent buildup play from Jack Grealish.
Grealish, who has been showing glimpses of his best form after playing a vital role in City’s dramatic equalizer against Arsenal the previous weekend, continued to influence the game.
However, he was fortunate to remain on the pitch after an altercation with Sandro Tonali, with whom he had a heated exchange throughout the match.
At one point, Grealish lashed out at the Italian midfielder, risking a red card.
Injuries were a recurring theme for City, with concerns growing during the first half when Haaland was caught on the ankle by Dan Burn, leaving him with a nasty cut. Despite the scare,
Haaland was able to continue playing. City, already fielding a weakened squad with only eight players on the bench, including two goalkeepers, could not afford to lose their star striker as well.
The result leaves Manchester City still atop the Premier League table, though their lead is now under threat.
Arsenal and Liverpool, both within touching distance, could leapfrog City depending on their results later in the day.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are just three points off the summit, sitting in fifth place and keeping pace with the leaders in what is shaping up to be an intense title race.
Despite halting their run of four consecutive Premier League losses when both Rodri and De Bruyne have been absent, City will leave the North East frustrated by their failure to take all three points.
