By Abiola Olawale
Chelsea’s aspirations for UEFA Champions League qualification took a significant hit on Sunday, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The Premier League clash, crucial for both teams vying for a top-five finish, saw Chelsea reduced to 10 men.
The match began disastrously for Chelsea, with Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali scoring just 100 seconds in, capitalizing on a defensive lapse.
The situation worsened in the 35th minute when striker Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card for elbowing Newcastle’s Sven Botman, following a VAR review.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Chelsea showed resilience, particularly in the second half. Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez came close to equalizing, only to be denied by stellar saves from Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
However, Bruno Guimarães sealed Newcastle’s victory with a deflected strike in the 90th minute, ensuring the Magpies claimed all three points.
The defeat leaves Newcastle in third place with 66 points, three points ahead of Chelsea, who now sit in fifth with 63 points and only two games remaining.
The Premier League’s top five teams are guaranteed Champions League spots for the 2025-26 season, but Chelsea’s path has narrowed significantly.
They must win their remaining fixtures and hope for favourable results elsewhere.
