Bournemouth pulled off a stunning upset against Newcastle United with a commanding 4-1 victory at St James' Park, halting the Magpies' impressive nine-match winning streak and extending their own unbeaten run to ten games.
Justin Kluivert was the star of the show, scoring three goals to lead Bournemouth to victory against his father's old club. His first goal came just six minutes after kickoff, showcasing his attacking prowess as he finished off a well-executed team move involving Antoine Semenyo. Despite Bruno Guimaraes' equalizer for Newcastle shortly thereafter, Kluivert struck again just before halftime to give the Cherries the lead once more.
The first half was defined by Bournemouth's relentless pressure, with Kluivert consistently causing problems for the Newcastle defense. Guimaraes' header from a corner briefly revived hopes for Newcastle, but his subsequent error allowed Kluivert to capitalize and restore Bournemouth's advantage.
The second half saw Newcastle struggle to find their rhythm, failing to create significant scoring opportunities. Despite their attacking efforts, including attempts from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, the home side found themselves outplayed. Kluivert completed his hat-trick deep in stoppage time with a stunning long-range shot, leaving fans and players alike celebrating with sheer joy.
Milos Kerkez added insult to injury for Newcastle, firing home the fourth goal just moments later, sealing one of the most remarkable away performances of the season for Bournemouth.
Throughout the match, Bournemouth displayed tactical superiority, effectively nullifying Newcastle's key players, including the usually prolific Isak. The visitors recorded 2.41 expected goals (xG) compared to Newcastle's 1.04, emphasizing their dominance both offensively and defensively.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager, expressed his disappointment after the match, stating, "I have to congratulate our opponent. They played very well and never allowed us to find our rhythm in the game." This loss not only ended Newcastle's winning streak but also marked their largest home defeat since December 2021, when they fell to Manchester City.
Bournemouth is the talk of the Premier League this season, with their excellent performance buoyed by Kluivert's resurgence, particularly impressive considering the team is missing several key players due to injury.
Newcastle had hoped to set a club record of ten consecutive wins across all competitions, but their efforts were thwarted on home soil as Bournemouth capitalized on their opponents' mistakes.
Reflecting on the match, Kluivert remarked on the challenges posed by the circumstances, stating, "With all the injuries we have, it feels great to come away with such an important win." He also noted the unique significance of scoring more goals at St James' Park than his father did during his time at the club, delighting fans and commentators alike.
The victory sees Bournemouth now just one point behind Newcastle, highlighting the competitive nature of this year's Premier League, where teams are closely matched.
Next up, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle will aim to regroup as they prepare for another away fixture against Southampton, placing emphasis on recovery and tactics to bounce back from this disappointing performance.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth will look to carry this momentum forward as they host Nottingham Forest, hoping to build on their impressive form and continue their push for European qualification. With the Premier League becoming increasingly cutthroat, every match poses new challenges for teams raising their game.