Sandro Tonali sinks 10-man Chelsea as Newcastle win top-five showdown

LONDON – Newcastle United took a huge step towards qualifying for the Champions League, as Sandro Tonali led them to a vital 2-0 English Premier League victory over top-five rivals Chelsea on May 11.

The midfielder put the Magpies ahead after just two minutes at St James’ Park before Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson was sent off for an elbow on Sven Botman late in the first half.

Bruno Guimaraes then struck in the 90th minute to secure Newcastle’s seventh win from their last nine league games and lift them into third place in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe’s side, aiming to feature in the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, are one point above fourth-placed Manchester City and three clear of fifth-placed Chelsea and sixth-placed Aston Villa.

In their final two matches, League Cup winners Newcastle travel to Arsenal next weekend before hosting Everton.

“The first half we were really, really good. The sending-off changed the game, and with the scoreline it became a tricky second half for us mentally,” said Howe on TNT Sports.

“The message was to attack, but on the pitch it felt different. Chelsea changed and tweaked things and made it difficult for us tactically, so congratulations to them, but we hung in there.

“The second half was stressful. I was pleased with how we defended.”

On the fast start, he added: “The way we play has to fit the culture of the club and what the supporters want. They want fast, attacking, aggressive football; that’s perfect for me. I love to try to give them what they want.

“The start today was amazing – the atmosphere was everything we hoped it would be and then the players delivered.”

Chelsea’s first defeat in seven league games leaves their bid to return to Europe’s elite club competition in jeopardy.

With Manchester United at home and Nottingham Forest away left on their schedule, Enzo Maresca’s team face a tense finish to their top-five challenge.

Reaching the Uefa Conference League final against Real Betis with a win against minnows Djurgarden on May 8 was little consolation to Chelsea after this damaging result.

Newcastle made the perfect start after just two minutes with a blistering break that caught the Blues cold.

Countering from a Chelsea corner that came to nothing, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was felled by Moises Caicedo.

When the penalty appeal came to nothing, Jacob Murphy whipped in a low cross that Tonali converted at the far post.

Swept along by the tidal wave of emotion rolling down from the stands, Newcastle poured forward in search of a second goal.

Alexander Isak miscued with the goal at his mercy after Dan Burn headed down Tonali’s free kick.

Caicedo, deployed at right-back rather than his usual midfield role, was being tormented by Gordon as Newcastle pinned the Blues back.

Chelsea were in dire straits and Jackson saw red in the 35th minute as his moment of madness encapsulated their haphazard start.

The forward led with his elbow as he crashed into Newcastle defender Botman, initially earning a booking that was upgraded to a dismissal after the video assistant referee (VAR) called for a check.

Maresca sent on Reece James for Noni Madueke at half-time in a bid to remedy Chelsea’s defensive issues, but the right-back nearly conceded an immediate penalty with a shoulder barge on Gordon.

Unmarked from a Newcastle corner, Isak wasted another good chance with a wayward volley.

Chelsea finally forced Nick Pope to make a save when Marc Cucurella took Cole Palmer’s pass and unleashed a powerful effort that the goalkeeper palmed away.

That near-miss was part of a period of sustained Chelsea possession despite their numerical disadvantage.

Picked out by Jadon Sancho, Enzo Fernandez’s drive forced a superb save from Pope in the closing stages.

James should have rewarded Chelsea for their late barrage, but he headed wastefully over from an unmarked position.

Howe’s anxiety was palpable on the touchline and Guimaraes finally eased the nerves in the 90th minute.

Burn’s pass found the Brazil midfielder, whose shot took a hefty deflection as it looped in over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Meanwhile, West Ham United climbed above Manchester United into 15th in the table after a 2-0 win at Old Trafford – their first Premier League victory at this venue in 18 years – thanks to goals in each half from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.

Tottenham Hotspur, who will meet United in the Europa League final on May 21, slipped to 17th after a 2-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace, who scored with an Eberechi Eze double. AFP