Newcastle Hands Aston Villa First Premier League Home Defeat in Almost a Year with a 3-1 Victory

^{_{Newcastle stuns Aston Villa with a 3-1 victory, handing them their first Premier League home defeat in nearly a year. Fabian Schar’s two first-half goals and an own-goal by Alex Moreno seal the triumph. Image Credit: Jacob King via AP}}

BIRMINGHAM, England — In a surprising turn of events, Newcastle secured a remarkable 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday, marking Villa’s first home loss in the Premier League in almost a year.

The Magpies took control of the game with two goals from Fabian Schar in the first half, separated by just four minutes. The momentum continued for Newcastle in the second half, as an own-goal from Alex Moreno further solidified their lead.

Ollie Watkins managed to score a consolation goal for the hosts, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Villa from losing at Villa Park in the league for the first time since February of the previous year.

While Villa remains in fourth place, the team has played more games than both first-place Liverpool and third-place Manchester City. Additionally, Tottenham could potentially overtake Villa if they secure a victory against Brentford on Wednesday.

Newcastle, previously struggling with six losses in their last seven league games, moved up to seventh place with this crucial win, although they are still 11 points behind Villa in the standings.

In a remarkable turn of events, considering Newcastle’s 5-1 victory over Villa in their season opener, the two teams have experienced different trajectories since then.

From the start, Newcastle dominated the game, creating the first serious chance after 20 minutes when Jacob Murphy’s precise pass found Anthony Gordon. However, Villa’s goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, rushed out to make the save.

Villa, usually strong at home, appeared uncharacteristically timid, allowing Newcastle to capitalize on their defensive vulnerabilities. The Magpies showcased their slick play, with Villa struggling to contain them.

The breakthrough for Newcastle came in the 32nd minute when Fabian Schar took advantage of defensive confusion from Villa to score. Just four minutes later, Schar netted his second goal from close range after a clearance attempt from Matty Cash.

Despite losing Alexander Isak to injury just before halftime, Newcastle extended their lead in the second half when Miguel Almiron’s play forced an own goal from Villa’s Alex Moreno.

Villa fought back, with Watkins scoring in the 71st minute, marking his 50th Premier League goal. However, a VAR decision denied Watkins another goal just minutes later, preventing Villa from building further momentum.

The victory for Newcastle provides a significant boost, while Villa faces the challenge of maintaining their position in the top-four race, especially with other teams having games in hand.

Source: apnews