BRIGHTON, England: Danny Welbeck scored late in each half to hand Brighton & Hove Albion a 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle United on Saturday as the 34-year-old rolled back the years with a vintage display of finishing.
Newcastle came into the game having failed to score in any of their away league games so far this season and fell behind when Welbeck put the home side ahead in the 41st minute, latching onto a Georginio Rutter pass and dinking home a beautiful finish.
Brighton almost doubled their lead in the 50th minute as Yankuba Minteh broke down the right and played the ball into the middle, but Yasin Ayari’s attempt was deflected behind for a corner.
Having made two changes at halftime, Newcastle burst into life, but despite plenty of possession in dangerous areas, they continued to struggle to get efforts on target.
They finally got the equalizer in the 76th minute as big summer signing Nick Woltemade scored with a brilliant flicked back-heel from Lewis Miley’s center.
However, Welbeck had other ideas and came to his side’s rescue again, snapping up a loose ball and flashing a shot across Nick Pope and into the Newcastle net in the 84th minute to put his side back in front.
The visitors continued to pour forward but Dan Burn, Woltemade and Harvey Barnes were all unable to convert late chances for Newcastle as the Seagulls held on to win.
The win lifted Brighton above Newcastle and into ninth place on 12 points, while their visitors slipped to 12th in the standings on nine points from eight games.
“It was a very good win and it was very important for us. We’ve had some results where we’ve been pushing and not quite got there,” Welbeck said.
“We’ve been ahead here at home and have not got the three points. It was a test of our character today.”
Substituted late on, Welbeck shrugged off talk of his age and said he would keep going.
“I love it. I have the passion and love for football. It’s what I want to do. I feel good. I feel strong and fit so I won’t be stopping soon,” he said.
With four goals in five Premier League appearances, Woltemade’s arrival at Newcastle has given them a huge boost in the wake of the acrimonious departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool, even if they did come up short against Brighton.
“The second half, there was good energy in the game. We scored one goal and it felt like we would win but they played good and scored. That’s football sometimes,” Woltemade said.
Welbeck brace gives Brighton 2-1 win over Newcastle
https://arab.news/nxus6
Welbeck brace gives Brighton 2-1 win over Newcastle
- Newcastle came into the game having failed to score in any of their away league games so far
- The win lifted Brighton above Newcastle and into ninth place on 12 points
Saudi Arabia lose to Morocco in final group match of Arab Cup
- Green Falcons had already qualified for quarterfinals
- Oman eliminated despite victory over Comoros
DOHA: Morocco booked their place in the Arab Cup knockout stages after defeating Saudi Arabia on Monday, but Oman’s victory over Comoros in their final group game was not enough to keep their campaign alive.
Needing only a draw to progress, Morocco took all three points against the Green Falcons, who missed a crucial second-half penalty.
The Saudis, already through to the knockouts, made several changes and began brightly, coming close to opening the scoring inside six minutes when Saleh Abu Al-Shamat’s looping header clipped the crossbar.
Despite the early pressure, Morocco kept their composure and took the lead when Tarik Tissoudali teed up Karim El-Berkaoui to put the Atlas Lions in front.
Saudi Arabia pushed for an equalizer and were handed a golden opportunity midway through the second half when Amin Zahzouh fouled substitute Abdullah Al-Hamdan inside the penalty area.
But the striker’s attempt at a “Panenka” sailed over the crossbar.
In the group’s other match, Oman defeated Comoros but were eliminated after failing to make up the required goal difference.
Knowing victory alone would not be enough, Oman began aggressively, creating a string of first-half chances through Issam Al-Sabhi, Zahir Al-Aghbari and Jameel Al-Yahmadi, only to be denied by profligacy and Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada.
The breakthrough arrived in calamitous fashion just before the interval as Ahamada was dispossessed by Al-Sabhi inside the 6-yard box, allowing the forward to shoot into an empty net.
Al-Sabhi then doubled Oman’s lead with a header just before the break.
Comoros rallied after the break through a fine individual effort from Nassuir Hamidou to reduce the deficit, but further chances went begging and Oman held on for victory.
Despite finishing with four points, Oman bowed out of the competition, while Comoros concluded their debut Arab Cup campaign with three straight defeats.
