EVERTON ................................................................. 2 half comeback as accept Toffees win
MATCH STATS
to a back four and the left-back was handed the captain’s armband.
After a horror first half for Ritchie, he was moved into his more natural right-wing position and Newcastle reshaped to a traditional back four.
The Magpies tried to get back into the game early in the second half, but a free-kick from Ki from the left failed to find anybody.
Then on 56 minutes Rondon managed to beat the offside trap but was only able to dink it just wide after beating Pickford to the chase.
It was the South American star who hauled his team back into the match with 25 minutes to go.
Rondon slipped the ball to Perez who crossed from the right-hand side of the box before his volleyed scissor kick thundered past Pickford to reduce arrears.
There were very few celebrations from Newcastle players as they sprinted back to the centre circle to get the game restarted.
Three minutes later, a Ki corner eventually fell to Ritchie whose cross was then flicked over by Dummett who was unfortunate with his headed effort.
Everton recovered from United’s fightback and Calvert-lewin hit a shot on the turn that rolled narrowly wide.
Benitez ended Ritchie’s disappointing afternoon with 18 minutes left as Kenedy came on to replace him and Jonjo Shelvey was handed his chance to impress with 12 minutes to go as he came on for Ki.
Pickford was called into action again with seven minutes left as Dummett let fly with a stinging shot. Yet St James’ Park erupted with 84 minutes on the clock as Hayden lifted a ball forward which Rondon helped on for Perez who cracked a close range shot past Pickford to make it 3-2.
Incredibly, the Magpies had turned this crazy game on its head after things had looked ominous at the break.
Newcastle held on as Everton poured forward at the end but they were full value for three points in the end. 7
7 8
13 46 NUFC v EFC 3
2 2
10 00