Hometown kid Elliot Anderson scored twice in the last 10 minutes as a young Newcastle United snared a surprising comeback win to complete its Premier League Summer Series unbeaten, beating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Friday.
Anderson forced a late gaffe at Brighton’s back in the 86th minute to restore level terms after Danny Welbeck put Brighton deservedly ahead just after the break. He then raced past the Seagulls back line to find a winner in stoppage time on what was one of the very final kicks of the match.
WATCH NEWCASTLE VS BRIGHTON FULL MATCH REPLAY ON PEACOCK
The Magpies split 1-1 with Chelsea on Wednesday in Atlanta thanks to Miguel Almiron’s equalizer, and that came on the heels of Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Aston Villa in Philadelphia. They’ll face Fiorentina next at St. James’ Park on August 5.
Brighton beat Brentford 2-0 on Wednesday in its second Summer Series match after falling 4-3 to Chelsea in a match that saw Brighton concede and score twice following the sending-off of Jan Paul van Hecke. The Seagulls return home to face Rayo Vallecano on August 6.
How to watch Newcastle vs Brighton in the Summer Series live, stream link
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET Friday
Where: Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey
TV Channel/Stream: Premier League Summer Series on Peacock
Eddie Howe is loving Newcastle’s comeback win, and he’s very happy with how his Magpies have used the Premier League Summer Series.
“Generally for the first 80 minutes [Elliot] was quite quiet but we struggled in possession a little bit today. We had players playing out of possession and we were a little bit disjointed. The last part of the game was a tribute to his fitness levels. The second goal to have the endurance and speed to get on the end of Jacob [Murphy’s ball) and finish brilliantly. He’s had a brilliant preseason and good signs for him.”
“It’s been intense, hard work for all of us. We’ve enjoyed the games, which have been high level. The arenas, the facilities have been high level as well. I think we go back a much stronger group.”
This is a very nice turn of events if you’re Eddie Howe, who got two late goals from a 20-year-old local who is really finding his footing for Newcastle.
And it’s not just that Elliot Anderson scored twice on a night that Howe rested Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, and Kieran Trippier, but that the Magpies did it against quality opposition (And if Brighton fans missed it, the Seagulls have high expectations for this season).
The Seagulls had pulled Moises Caicedo, Kaoru Mitoma, and their entire Starting XI by the time the Magpies struck for the equalizer and win, but names like Remi Savage, Lewis Miley, Ben Parkinson, and Jay Turner-Cooke were out there for the victors.
All told, both teams will have seen a lot to like from the game, but Howe has food for thought in how he pulls together a midfield with Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, Joelinton, and Anderson. Good problems to have.
Well, Elliot Anderson’s made a fool of us.
The 20-year-old gets on the end of a defense-opening pass and snaps a left-footed effort past Verbruggen and inside the far post.
It’s almost the last kick of the game, and Roberto De Zerbi will not be pleased with his Seagulls back line.
Well, ignore our last post.
There’s a huge mix-up at the back as Elliot Anderson has not quit on this match and Newcastle may just have its third draw in three Summer Series outings.
The Whitley Bay boy whose grandfather played for the club darts toward the uncertainty and slides to poke the ball loose, popping up outside the six to smash it past Bart Verbruggen.
You look at the lineups and think this is about how things were going to look tonight.
With plenty of respect to the team Eddie Howe deployed — which included Bruno Guimaraes, Harvey Barnes, and Callum Wilson — the Magpies were absent Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali, and Kieran Trippier amongst others.
Brighton was close to its best XI here, though they subbed liberally. Moises Caicedo and Mo Dahoud struck imposing figures in the midfield The Magpies have introduced kids for the final stanza and it would be a surprise to see Brighton blow its Summer Series finale though their XI is essentially out, too.
It’s a lot of good work from Kaoru Mitoma and a little bit of luck for Brighton as Nick Pope gets very little on the Japanese star’s shot.
Dan Burn can’t adjust to the change in pace and Welbeck has a gaping goal. No surprise it’s 1-0 to the Seagulls.
TEAM NEWS. 🚨 Here's our starting XI to take on @NUFC in the #PLSummerSeries! 👊 pic.twitter.com/j6RxKgciES
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 28, 2023
Tonight's team. 💪
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 28, 2023
⚫️ HOWAY THE LADS! ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/bnXcHdvXBr
The Magpies are looking dangerous going forward but will have to keep an eye on Fabian Schar after the Swiss mainstay limped off against Chelsea and left Dan Burn to partner with Sven Botman.
Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are getting some comfort together in the middle of the park and Tonali could be more comfortable soon if rumors are true regarding Newcastle pursuit of Italian national teamer Nicolo Zaniolo.
Harvey Barnes is another new addition to the fold, and how he works with Alexander Isak, an improving Anthony Gordon, and Callum Wilson will be closely watched this preseason.
The Seagulls are not afraid to speak about their ambitions, as Danny Welbeck, Deniz Undav, and Adam Lallana all told ProSoccerTalk that Brighton thinks it can go far in the Europa League while maintaining Premier League consistency.
Brighton still has Moises Caicedo in the fold as of press time and has looked good during the Summer Series. The Seagulls fell 4-3 to Chelsea while playing 30 minutes with 10 men on Saturday before getting a pair of goals from Simon Adingra in a 2-0 win over Brentford.
