Spurs’ Captain Delivers When Needed Most
Cristian Romero produced a stunning 95th-minute overhead kick to snatch a dramatic point for Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League clash with Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The goal eased the mounting pressure on Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who had seen his side face the prospect of a sixth defeat in just eight league games.
Romero had already cancelled out Bruno Guimaraes’ second-half opener, and his late acrobatic strike came after Newcastle struggled to clear a corner, sending the travelling Spurs fans into ecstasy.
“Romero stepped up when we needed him most,” Frank said. “It’s the kind of moment that shows the character of our squad. Our captain led by example tonight.”
Newcastle had briefly taken the lead through a late penalty from Anthony Gordon, awarded after VAR review confirmed that Rodrigo Bentancur had fouled Dan Burn. Despite the controversy over the spot-kick, Spurs’ resilience ensured they left with a valuable point.
Romero’s Impact and Spurs’ Revival
Returning from suspension, Romero made an immediate difference for Frank’s side. With Spurs struggling in recent fixtures—including conceding twice in the opening six minutes against Fulham last weekend—his presence brought much-needed stability and determination.
Remarkably, Romero, who scored just once last season, accounted for the visitors’ only two shots on target—and converted both, highlighting his influence. Frank added four personnel changes for the clash, bringing in Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Brennan Johnson, and Romero himself, a move that paid off spectacularly.
“Our captain’s attitude is contagious,” Frank said. “The team showed incredible spirit, and the fans’ reaction at the final whistle proves the importance of never giving up. It’s a morale boost for the next games.”
Newcastle Suffers Familiar Late-Game Heartbreak
For Newcastle, the outcome felt painfully familiar. Eddie Howe’s side conceded a stoppage-time goal at home for the third time this season, following similar defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal. The Magpies had looked set for their third consecutive league victory, only for a late lapse to cost them valuable points.
Howe reflected on the defeat, saying, “We did the hard work, regained the lead, but we have to learn to manage the final moments better. The space Romero had to score was unacceptable, and it’s a lesson we must take forward.”
Despite their early dominance, Newcastle’s inability to close out games has already seen them drop more points from winning positions than any other side this season—a statistic that continues to haunt the Magpies.
What’s Next for the Teams?
Newcastle return to St James’ Park to face Burnley on Saturday, 6 December (15:00 GMT) before heading to Germany to play Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday, 20 December (20:00 GMT). Spurs host Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 6 December (15:00 GMT), followed by another home fixture against Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday, 9 December (20:00 GMT).
