Newcastle vs. Manchester City: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match
Manchester City missed a chance to open a gap in the race for automatic qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle United at St James' Park on Tuesday.
City were pegged back on a night when Sergio Aguero scored his 100th Premier League goal. Vurnon Anita's fine first-half strike answered that score and earned the relegation-threatened Magpies a point.
The game wasn't without controversy, including Aguero appearing offside before his goal. Referee Kevin Friend also denied Aguero a penalty later on.
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A point apiece means third-place City now lead Arsenal by the same slender margin, while neighbours Manchester United are just five points off. Both teams have a game in hand on the Citizens.
For Newcastle, it's another point toward survival. The Magpies are still second off bottom but have closed the gap to safety to just two points.
As usual, Aguero was chosen to lead the line for a City starting XI packed with midfield power. Underrated holding player Fernando partnered with Yaya Toure and Fabian Delph.
But the real news was the return of skipper and key centre-back Vincent Kompany, per the club:
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez made a bold call by ditching skilled midfield man Georginio Wijnaldum to the bench in favour of inconsistent forward Ayoze Perez. Papiss Demba Cisse also played up front instead of Aleksandar Mitrovic, per the team:
The Magpies lacked guile without Wijnaldum's clever forward runs and excellent technique. Yet, the hosts still fashioned a good chance during the opening exchanges when Andros Townsend lifted a ball in for Cisse. But the striker's close-range header went over.
Then it was Jesus Navas' turn to be wasteful for City. He exchanged passes well with Kevin De Bruyne before a heavy touch ruined things in the box.
Aguero was more sure after the linesman's flag failed to punish his too-early run. The Argentinian got his head to Aleksandar Kolarov's free-kick to mark a milestone moment.
Sky Sports Football provided images of the disputed opener:
The goal stood, and City's official Twitter account relayed media about Aguero's scoring after his awesome feat:
Meanwhile, Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News put Aguero's achievement into an impressive context:
De Bruyne and Moussa Sissoko then traded misses when clean through on goal. Sissoko's was the more glaring error, since the Frenchman neglected to slide the ball to an unmarked Cisse.
Anita, on the other hand, justified taking a shot by drilling a low effort past City goalkeeper Joe Hart for the equaliser. It was a fantastic strike by the former Ajax man, one set up by Sissoko's deft touch.
Aguero wanted a penalty after the break, but Friend denied his claim.
Still, Aguero, De Bruyne and Navas all continued to work Newcastle 'keeper Karl Darlow, each forcing him into a save.
But the Magpies continued showing plenty of threat of their own. Most of it came from Mitrovic, whom Benitez introduced in place of Cisse 10 minutes after the break.
His aerial power made things uncomfortable for Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala, and the former was booked after being drawn into a clumsy challenge on Sissoko.
Sensing the danger of defeat, City boss Manuel Pellegrini made changes of his own, swapping Delph for Raheem Sterling and letting Fernandinho enter the fray for a rather subdued Toure. With his final roll of the dice, Pellegrini removed Navas for centre-forward Wilfried Bony.
The former Swansea City man forced Darlow into another fine save, with the 'keeper tipping Bony's lopped header behind.
At the other end, Wijnaldum might have scored after he tied accident-prone Kolarov in knots in the box. But Hart smothered the Dutchman's effort.
That was the best chance of a frantic final period, and the teams shared the spoils. It's a point that has done little for either side's objectives before the end of the season.
Post-Match Reaction
Pellegrini said he was happy to earn a point, per Sky Sports:
Brennan reported that the City manager is waiting on the fitness of key players ahead of this weekend's game against Stoke City:
Benitez also said he was pleased—particularly with his team's reaction after going down 1-0:
As Miles Starforth of the Shields Gazette noted, the Spaniard was grateful to the raucous crowd:
In the context of Newcastle's season, any point could prove key, though Sunderland—one point ahead—has a game in hand. As for City, Pellegrini will rue the top-four race still being so close, which adds extra pressure to the club's upcoming UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
