On a painful Saturday at St. James’s Park, Newcastle United drew 1-1 with Bournemouth in a Premier League match thanks to a penalty kick by striker Alexander Isak.
After a dominant first half in which Kieran Trippier’s free kick grazed the outside of the goalpost, Newcastle must have entered the locker room at halftime wondering what they needed to do to score.
Joelinton came even closer, striking the inside of the post with a curling shot, and then both he and Ryan Fraser were denied by goalkeeper Neto, who made two outstanding stops shortly before the half.
Bournemouth’s defence came out for the second half with a five-man back line, intent on closing down the gaps that led to those opportunities, and their strategy worked beautifully.
Philip Billing scored for Bournemouth in the 62nd minute with a left-footed shot, momentarily silencing the home fans.
As a result of a VAR review, Jefferson Lerma was penalised for touching Trippier’s cross inside the area, and Isak converted the ensuing penalty kick beyond Neto.
It was Isak’s first home goal since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad in August for a rumoured club-record £59 million ($67 million) cost.
Newcastle’s lack of penetrating proved costly as they failed to produce despite having the majority of possession; Joelinton’s feeble header in stoppage time was the closest they got to again troubling Neto’s goal.
Bournemouth moved up two positions from 14th to 12th with eight points, while Newcastle’s sixth draw in seven league games puts the Magpies up to 10th with eight points and boos from their supporters.
“Today, I thought we dipped,” manager Eddie Howe said to BEIN Sports. “I thought it was away from our highest level, and if we hit anywhere near our highest level, we would have won today.
“Right from the start, we didn’t have that zip and feel about us that we have done at times this season,” he added.
Gary O’Neil, the interim manager of Bournemouth, told the BBC that he anticipated to learn about his future in the following week after a win over Newcastle.
“I am pleased the boys got something out of it because they put in a hell of a shift,” he said.