Grimaldo’s Late Strike Haunts Newcastle Yet Again
It was one of those nights where you could almost feel the tension hanging in the air, and then—right at the death—it happened again. Newcastle had battled back, shown real grit, taken the lead, and looked poised to walk away from Germany with a huge Champions League victory. But as the clock crept toward the 88th minute, Bayer Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo stepped up and delivered a moment that felt painfully familiar for the travelling Magpies fans. His low shot slid under Aaron Ramsdale, the BayArena erupted, and suddenly Newcastle were left staring at yet another late goal conceded this season.
The frustration on the pitch told the whole story. Ramsdale threw his arms out in disbelief. Malick Thiaw hit the turf. Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy stood frozen with their hands on their heads. They knew exactly what had just happened—because they had lived it several times already. Eddie Howe summed it up bluntly after the 2-2 draw: the team simply had not defended well enough in the moments that mattered most.
Also Read:- House Approves Massive $901bn US Defense Bill Amid Fierce Debate
- David Attenborough’s Wild London Adventure Before His 100th Birthday
And the numbers underline that point. Newcastle have now conceded nine goals in the final 10 minutes across all competitions—one of the worst records among Premier League sides. Anthony Gordon, who scored the equaliser and later set up Lewis Miley’s goal, admitted it plainly: it all comes back to mentality. Top teams, he said, find ways to hold out.
The match had already thrown up its fair share of problems. Newcastle went behind early when Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich rose unmarked at a corner, the ball deflecting cruelly off Bruno Guimarães. Set-piece defending has become a weak spot lately, and this goal only deepened that concern. But to their credit, Newcastle rallied. A costly mistake from Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken allowed Gordon to level from the spot, and moments later the energetic Lewis Miley—just on as a substitute—headed Newcastle into the lead. For the 19-year-old academy product, it was another standout moment in a season where he has taken every chance given to him.
But leading away from home has not guaranteed much for Newcastle lately. They dropped deeper and deeper as the minutes ticked down, and Leverkusen sensed it. Grimaldo, who had been dangerous all evening, drifted into space, feinted beautifully, and finished the move he’d started. Newcastle’s advantage vanished in an instant.
Still, the draw keeps their Champions League hopes alive. Progress remains in their hands, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. With PSV visiting next and a daunting trip to Paris soon after, Newcastle cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes. Howe knows it. The players know it. And after nights like this one, the fans certainly feel it too.
Read More:
0 Comments