Southampton 1-3 Newcastle United: Isak at the double as Magpies defeat Saints to climb to fourth
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice in a 3-1 win against Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday. The victory lifts Newcastle to fourth place in the Premier League as they intensify their pursuit of a coveted Champions League spot.
Southampton took an early lead in the 10th minute when captain Jan Bednarek powered home a header from James Bree's well-placed cross. Despite the Saints' bright start, Newcastle quickly turned the tide.
Isak equalized in the 26th minute, calmly converting a penalty after a lengthy VAR review deemed a tangle of legs in the box to be a foul. Just four minutes later, the Swedish striker found the net again with a sublime curling effort off the post, giving the Magpies a 2-1 lead.
Early in the second half, Sandro Tonali extended Newcastle’s advantage. Anthony Gordon played a perfectly timed pass to unleash the Italian midfielder, who confidently slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
Manager Eddie Howe praised Tonali’s contribution, saying: “His athleticism, his speed, his coolness—he’s just become such an important player for us in a very quick time.”
Southampton’s woes deepened with their sixth consecutive home league defeat, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table with just six points—10 points from safety. Despite having slightly more possession and showing attacking intent, their leaky defense and missed opportunities proved costly.
Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes thought he had pulled one back in the 84th minute, but his goal was ruled out after a VAR check, compounding the home side’s frustration.
“We gave everything that we’ve got,” said Southampton manager Ivan Juric. “It’s not easy to play against Newcastle.”
The victory marked a crucial response from Newcastle after their nine-game winning streak across all competitions was snapped by Bournemouth last week. Manager Eddie Howe acknowledged the significance of the result.
“I thought it was a massive win for us after last week,” Howe told reporters. “Especially conceding so early, that was a huge response from the players.”
The win places Newcastle in fourth, overtaking Chelsea and Manchester City, who played later on Saturday. With Isak in prolific form and the team’s counter-attacking strength on full display, Newcastle look well-positioned to continue their push for a top-four finish.
SportsLigue