Marseille punched their ticket after a dramatic comeback win on the road with two late goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang providing the difference against Newcastle United. In the matchup on Wednesday night, the French side showed extraordinary mental fortitude after having gone down early, coming back to win the match and the title. Aubameyang’s performance was a highlight, particularly his second goal, which left Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope looking somewhat foolish.
Indeed, Newcastle took the lead against all odds almost immediately, scoring in less than six minutes. Harvey Barnes capped off that advantage with his fourth goal of the competition. The lead was too short-lived, as Marseille came back smartly after half-time to turn the match on its head. Eddie Howe, the coach of Newcastle, lamented his squad’s failure to hold a late lead.
Early Advantage for Newcastle
Newcastle were out of the blocks fast and within three minutes had taken the lead through midfielder Harvey Barnes. The early goal lit a fire of hope for the visitors. They fought tooth and nail to earn some very important points, always remaining within striking distance of the top half of the league standings. Yet, even with a strong opening from their side, the squad was unable to keep that pace for the entirety of the game.
Despite the disappointing loss, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe recognized the significance of their performance and spoke afterwards about early instances that changed the whole course of the game.
“I thought the effort was good. I think the start of the second half, obviously, was a big one for us – 15 minutes at the start of the second half, I thought, cost us.” – Eddie Howe
The team faced further challenges when Malick Thiaw’s header was cleared off the line by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, a former Tottenham midfielder. This moment underscored Newcastle’s defensive fragility throughout the match and hinted at the struggles they would face as Marseille completed their comeback.
Aubameyang’s Impact
Aubameyang’s resurgence at Marseille has been noteworthy. With his first of two goals, the 36-year-old forward proved to be a game-winner. His first goal was assisted by a perfectly timed through ball from Darryl Bakola. The forward brought down Yorke’s brilliant long pass before deftly tapping the ball past Nick Pope. Then he bent it into the net, reminding everyone of his coolness and craft.
His play this season has been phenomenal, having a role in all 16 goals in just 16 games for Marseille. After the match, he expressed his happiness with his role at the club and emphasized the significance of the victory.
“I’m very happy to be here in this club, to enjoy moments like tonight. It was a great game; we started a bit sloppy. But I think we reacted well, and it was important to win today.” – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
His second goal only deepened Marseille’s advantage and soon clinched their comeback triumph, leaving Newcastle to reflect on a dismal run of displays.
Newcastle’s Struggles Continue
Even with their hot start to the contest, Newcastle has been hit by their fair share of misfortune lately. The Gunners have picked up just one win in their last eight away fixtures. Yet this shocking development casts a long shadow over them as implemented. Facing the prospect of dropping out of the playoff picture entirely after Wednesday’s action, Howe and his team need to bounce back in a big way. They cannot shy away from their contradictions.
Howe lamented on his side’s errors at key times in the game.
“It was just a lapse of concentration from our perspective, I think. Then we didn’t maybe react well enough to that. We conceded the second and from there it was difficult.” – Eddie Howe
The manager’s comments signal an urgent need for improvement as Newcastle look ahead to their next fixture.
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