Newcastle beats 10 players Chelsea and approaches Champions League qualification

Newcastle United beat 10 Chelsea with a key victory at St James Park Stadium, just a short distance from qualifying for the Champions League next season.

The two teams scored 63 points in the first game, but the Magpies got a fantastic start in just 112 seconds - Sandro Tonali scored a close-range goal and scored the first goal. The visiting team's dilemma worsened in the 35th minute (10 minutes before the end of the first half): Forward Nicholas Jackson was sent off by referee John Brooks after unnecessary elbow to Newcastle defender Sven Botman after VAR review.

coach Enzo Maresca activated the Blues' counterattack by adjusting Cole Palmer to the pseudo-Nine. In the second half, goalkeeper Nick Pope saved the threatening shots from Mark Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez, ensuring that the goal was not lost. After Reese James missed the opportunity to equalize, Newcastle locked the victory by Bruno Guimaraes's shot through Marlow Gusto in stoppage time.

This priceless victory made Newcastle ecstatic, but it put Chelsea in the abyss. The Blues will face Manchester United at home for the remaining schedule, and will play Nottingham Forest, who is also fighting for the Champions League place in the last round. Newcastle, who has risen to third place in the standings, will play against Arsenal next away and will play against Everton at home in the last round.

Newcastle touched the deafening cheers at the end of the game, confirming the decisive significance of this victory for Eddie Howe's team to realize the grand aspirations of the season.

The team just ended its 68-year championship drought in March this year - winning the first league cup since 1955 (and the first official trophy after the 1969 International City Expo Cup). Now they are directly competing with Chelsea by defeating the Champions League qualification, and have occupied a good position to return to the top European league.

Although Tonali scored first and continued the team's tradition of home blitz, Jackson's tactical adjustments with Maresca changed the game's trend. When Chelsea counterattacked in the second half, St. James Park was filled with anxiety among the "Magpies" fans. Fortunately, Pope made many magical pounces to resolve the crisis, and local giant Dan Bourne devoted his dominant defensive performance. When Guimaraes scored and locked the victory, the whole game was finally relieved.

Newcastle now has the initiative and just continues its state in the last two rounds (away match against Arsenal/home match against Everton) to realize its Champions League dream.

Chelsea paid a heavy price for recklessness

In the boiling away game on the Tyne, Chelsea, who was 0-1, was in a difficult situation, and Jackson's unnecessary elbow strike in the 35th minute (a red card confirmed by VAR) completely ruined hope.

Ironically, after Maresca transformed Palmer into a pseudo-Nine, the ten-player Blues played better. But the disadvantage of the number of people always limits the room for adjustment. The Blues were expected to take away the draw, but now they are 3 points behind Newcastle and only two rounds left (main match against Manchester United / away match against Nottingham Forest). Rees James' header with a close shot above the crossbar became a major regret - just a moment after missing the opportunity, Guimaraes scored a deadly second goal.

This costly defeat casts a shadow on Chelsea's Champions League prospects, and Stamford Bridge's future plans may change as a result. Young coach Maresca and his team are facing the ultimate test of the final stage of the season.