A LATE STRIKE from Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish handed Newcastle the Championship title in a dramatic twist in the final moments of the season.
Chris Hughton’s Brighton travelled to Villa Park with promotion already secured and their destiny in their own hands, knowing that three points would be enough to win them the league, regardless of how Newcastle fared at home to Barnsley.
It all looked to be plain sailing for the Seagulls when Glenn Murray put them in front from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, with Villa also reduced to 10 men by Nathan Baker’s sending off.
But Grealish struck to equalise in the 89th minute, his 25-yard effort slipping underneath the body of Brighton keeper David Stockdale.
That cruel blow meant Brighton had to settle for a 1-1 draw, enough to hand Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle the title at their expense after they ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at home to Barnsley thanks to goals from Ayoze Perez, Chancel Mbemba and Dwight Gayle.
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Well done girls. Saw the last 30 minutes. Some great goals
No offence is intended here but what’s being gained by this 9 nil thrashing.
There have been multiple mismatches in this group and others.
Is there any plan to eliminate these nothing games?
@James Croke: a better goal difference?
@James Croke: 3 World Cup qualifying points and a healthy goal difference – that’s what.
@A$AP Ragnick: it’s pointless , you’d need an abacus to calculate how many goals Germany have scored in this group-
@James Croke: especially Germany are not even in the group
@James Croke: Think you can’t just discount countries because of their weaker level tho. It’s a World Cup qualifier.. doesn’t matter if you’re a minnow or giant, everyone deserves a fair shot and some games surely. Sometimes even a win for little sides can be massive and have a real ripple effect in countries and participation levels.
@Ultan Corcoran: I’d hope simultaneously , they happen few and far between every 10
Years – in the meantime what is a 9 nil defeat doing for these players?
@James Croke: they can only play what’s put in front of them. Every game is part of a players development some mean more than others. Chill.
@James Croke: It won’t do whole pile tbf but I think its probably a reflection of a poorer organisation in what I’d imagine is a considerably poorer country. Not a whole lot the players can do but keep their heads up and be proud of playing for their nation. Bound to win a few games here and there.
Yiz’ll never bate de Irish
I thought it was the men’s qualifier.
@Roger Bond: the men wouldnt be able to score that many
@Danger: not sure they would score 9 goals in all of the WCQ group games combined
@Roger Bond: Shows you have very little knowledge of who and what Republic of Ireland teams are trying to qualify for and also a lack of respect for the ladies game in general. If your just looking for likes your pathetic
@Danger: true but they sure could concede that many. Any chance the ladies team could give the mens team some pointers on how to score goals, not concede and how to finish a game out?
@Danger: I’m sure they’d beat the Georgian women. Maybe not by as much.
Flat track bullies. They get beat by anyone what a half decent team