Newcastle United 3-3 Manchester City: Guardiola´s side fight back in St James´ Park thriller

Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland scored as Manchester City came from two goals down to salvage a 3-3 draw in Sunday’s Premier League thriller with Newcastle United.

The reigning champions had started their latest title defence with back-to-back wins without conceding and took a fifth-minute lead at St James’ Park through Ilkay Gundogan.

However, Miguel Almiron levelled up with a goal awarded after a VAR check and Callum Wilson had Newcastle – themselves still unbeaten – in front prior to half-time.

Kieran Trippier’s stunning free-kick put Newcastle further ahead, but Haaland pulled one back and Silva equalised soon after to ensure the points were shared.

Newcastle had kept back-to-back clean sheets but were caught cold early on, with Gundogan left in plenty of space to control Silva’s clipped pass and fire home.

Kevin De Bruyne was twice denied by Nick Pope, though Newcastle levelled up when Almiron met Saint-Maximin’s cross with his thigh and bundled past Ederson.

After Almiron’s celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, a VAR check determined Joao Cancelo had kept the Newcastle attacker onside and the goal was allowed to stand.

The hosts led by the interval through Wilson’s well-taken strike past Ederson following more good work from Saint-Maximin.

Pope produced a fine fingertip stop to help Haaland’s shot onto the post early in the second half, shortly before Trippier’s sublime 30-yard free-kick found the top-left corner.

City gave themselves hope thanks to Haaland’s volley after anticipating Rodri’s knock-down inside the box.

After Haaland uncharacteristically missed a one-on-one chance, City were back on level terms when De Bruyne cut open Newcastle’s defence and Silva calmly slotted past Pope.

That set up a tense final 25 minutes, in which Trippier was shown a red card for a cynical challenge on De Bruyne before the decision was downgraded to yellow, though there was to be no winning goal.

2 – Erling Haaland is the third player to score in each of his first two Premier League away games for Man City after Emmanuel Adebayor and Emile Mpenza. Excelling. pic.twitter.com/mmb9z0NIO6

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 21, 2022

What does it mean? City rescue a point

City let slip a lead to trail at half-time for just the seventh time in their Premier League history, and on five of the previous six occasions they went on to lose the match.

But Pep Guardiola’s men showed impressive fighting spirit after going further behind – just like Newcastle had at a goal down – to extend their unbeaten away league run to 20 matches.

They may have dropped points for the first time this season, but Guardiola will take comfort from the fact Liverpool are still five points back ahead of Monday’s trip to Manchester United.

ASM lights up SJP

Saint-Maximin put in a great cross for Almiron’s rather unorthodox equaliser and carried the ball forward before playing in Wilson for Newcastle’s second – though the striker still had plenty to do with his finish.

It is the third time the tricky winger has assisted multiple goals in a single Premier League game since his debut in August 2019 – only four players (De Bruyne – five; Harry Kane, Jarrod Bowen and Trent Alexander-Arnold – four each) – have done so more often in that time.

Citizens’ shaky defence

City’s defending will give Guardiola a few sleepless nights ahead of his side’s next Premier League match, not being helped on this occasion by an early change that saw Ruben Dias replace the injured Nathan Ake alongside John Stones.

It is the fifth time in their last 13 outings that City have shipped three or more goals in a game in all competitions, something that their demanding boss will be eager to resolve.

What’s next?

City face Barcelona in a prestige friendly on Wednesday ahead of hosting Crystal Palace in the Premier League next weekend. Newcastle travel to Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Cup second round in midweek and have a league assignment at Wolves next Sunday.