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Football
Newcastle United
vs Chelsea. Premier League.
12: 30pm, Saturday 20th December 2025.
St James' Park, Newcastle Attendance: Attendance52, 226.
Report and free highlights as Newcastle and Chelsea draw 2-2 at St James' Park; Nick Woltemade's first-half double had given hosts a 2-0 half-time lead; Blues hit back through Reece James' free kick and Joao Pedro goal after a Robert Sanchez assist
Senior Football Journalist
@Richiereds1976
Saturday 20 December 2025 15: 40, UK Chelsea's spirited second-half display saw them recover from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United. But Newcastle will rue a contentious decision not to award them a penalty midway when leading 2-1. "It was a clear penalty, " said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe. Chelsea arrived at St James' Park with all eyes on head coach Enzo Maresca after a difficult week for the Italian, although the way the visitors fought back on Saturday lunchtime showed his players were still fighting for him. Newcastle, though, will be disappointed that Nick Woltemade's first-half double - the first time the German has scored twice in a game for the Magpies - was not enough to earn them a much-needed win after last weekend's loss at arch-rivals Sunderland. The striker was in the right place to fire the hosts ahead after just four minutes following excellent approach play from Jacob Murphy, before doubling their lead on 20 minutes. This time it was Anthony Gordon with the impressive work down the left and from his inviting cross, Woltemade guided the ball just inside the far post, with the goal finally confirmed after a long VAR check with the Semi-Automated Offside Technology not working.
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Newcastle failed to have an effort on target after the 28th minute, although it still needed a moment of brilliance from Reece James to give the Blues a lifeline. Standing over a 30-yard free kick, the Chelsea skipper curled his effort over the wall and in off the inside of the post with Aaron Ramsdale, at full stretch, helpless. From then, the momentum changed. The hosts will point to the decision not to award them a spot kick after Trevoh Chalobah wiped out Gordon in the box, an incident former Premier League referee Mike Dean called "100 per cent a penalty" on Soccer Saturday. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player However, Chelsea deservedly drew level midway through the second half thanks to an unlikely assist from Robert Sanchez, whose long clearance found Joao Pedro, who brilliantly turned his marker Malick Thiaw, before bursting clear and sliding a shot under Ramsdale. Robert Sanchez’s assist for João Pedro was the fourth time a goalkeeper assisted a Premier League goal for Chelsea, and first since Petr Cech for a Didier Drogba goal against Tottenham Hotspur in December 2010. Chelsea remain in fourth, while Eddie Howe's team move up to 11th ahead of the rest of the weekend's games. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Correctly predict six scorelines for a chance to win £250, 000 for free. Entries by 3pm Saturday.
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