There was little riding on the game, but that didn’t stop Newcastle and Man City playing out a brilliant seven-goal thriller at St James’ Park.
It was a match that had just about everything with Ferran Torres netting a hat-trick to see his side claim the 4-3 victory.
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The lead changed hands four times in the game with Newcastle benefitting from two penalties in the action packed clash.
City had already won the title while Newcastle had secured their status as a Premier League side.
It was not played like a dead rubber, though, even if Pep Guardiola decided to play somewhat of a weakened side.
The big news before kick-off was that Scott Carson had been handed a debut for the club, his first Premier League game in a decade.
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The visitors dominated the early stages, although without creating meaningful changes, and it was the Magpies who took the lead with 25 minutes gone with Carson’s first act to pick the ball out the back of his net.
Emil Krafth’s long ball set Allan Saint-Maximin on his way and when he squared for Joelinton, Kyle Walker blocked the striker’s shot out for a corner.
Jonjo Shelvey delivered the set-piece to the far post, where defender Krafth rose to head firmly past the helpless Carson, his first goal for the club.
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Newcastle were unfortunate not to extend their lead 10 minutes before the break when when Shelvey curled a free-kick over the defensive wall and saw it come back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
The visitors were back in it three minutes later when Joao Cancelo’s shot clipped Jacob Murphy’s heels and flew past the wrong-footed Martin Dubravka.
The Magpies’ keeper was beaten again three minutes before the break when Torres audaciously flicked Gundogan’s free-kick across him and inside the far post to make it 2-1.
A stunning effort that could well be considered a goal of the season contender.
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Bruce’s men had a chance to level deep into stoppage time when Nathan Ake was adjudged to have tripped Joelinton and after a VAR review, referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot.
The Brazilian striker stepped up to smash the spot-kick past Carson and make it 2-2 at the break.
AFP
The Magpies regained the lead with 62 minutes gone when, after Kyle Walker had tripped Joe Willock inside the box, the midfielder saw his penalty saved by Carson, but tucked the rebound into the empty net.
However, the lead last just seconds when Torres stabbed home Gabriel Jesus’ driven cross to make it 3-3.
AFP
It was 4-3 to the visitors with 24 minutes remaining when Cancelo’s shot came back off the post and Torres converted the rebound.
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