Newcastle United's Alexander Isak scored a late penalty to earn his team a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, May 4, 2025. The match saw Newcastle pushing for a vital win to solidify their position in the Champions League places, while Brighton aimed to enhance their hopes of European qualification.
Brighton initially took the lead in the 28th minute through Yankuba Minteh, who showcased his skill by curling a shot into the far corner. The goal came against the run of play, as Newcastle had been applying relentless pressure throughout the first half. Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle for £30 million last summer, celebrated his sixth goal of the season in front of the traveling fans, pointing to his badge and then the ground.
Newcastle's frustration grew as they were denied two penalty appeals by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The first was correctly overturned due to a foul by Tariq Lamptey on Anthony Gordon occurring outside the box, and the second saw Joe Willock booked for diving. However, a third penalty was awarded when Yasin Ayari handled a free-kick from Fabian Schar. After a lengthy VAR review, the decision stood, and Isak calmly converted the penalty, bringing his league tally to 23 goals for the season.
Isak's late equalizer was a testament to Newcastle's determination, as they had been pressing for an equalizer for much of the match. Callum Wilson, a substitute for Newcastle, nearly snatched a late victory but was denied by a superb save from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Despite the draw, Newcastle remains fourth in the Premier League with 62 points from 35 matches, while Brighton sits in 10th place with 51 points. The draw does little to benefit either side in their respective battles for European football, with Brighton's hopes of qualifying for Europe taking a hit as they face tough fixtures ahead against Wolves, Liverpool, and Tottenham.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler expressed mixed emotions after the match, noting the team's inability to maintain their momentum from a previous 3-2 victory over West Ham. "We felt euphoric after that win, but today we struggled to find our rhythm," he remarked. His team managed only three shots after Minteh's opener, reflecting their defensive struggles against a persistent Newcastle side.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, on the other hand, was pleased with his team's resilience. "We weren't at our clinical best today, but we kept pushing and got our reward in the end," he said. The draw leaves Newcastle with mixed feelings, as they could have moved up to third with a win but also avoided a damaging loss that would have put them under pressure from chasing teams.
Looking ahead, Newcastle's journey to secure a Champions League spot continues with upcoming matches against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Everton. With their recent form, having won six of their last seven league outings, they remain confident of achieving their goal.
As for Brighton, their path to European football is becoming increasingly challenging. They will need to regroup quickly and find a way to capitalize on their remaining fixtures to keep their hopes alive. The Seagulls have had a mixed season, and with three difficult matches ahead, they will need to dig deep to secure a top-eight finish, which could offer a route into the Conference League.
In summary, while Newcastle's draw keeps them in a strong position for Champions League qualification, Brighton's European aspirations are hanging by a thread. Both teams will be looking to improve in their next outings as the Premier League season approaches its climax.
