Sixteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha etched his name into Liverpool’s history books, scoring with the final kick of the match to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over a resilient 10-man Newcastle United at a raucous St. James’ Park.
The substitute’s strike in the 10th minute of stoppage time not only sealed a crucial three points for the reigning Premier League champions but also made him the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history at 16 years and 361 days old, surpassing the previous record held by Ben Woodburn. Ngumoha’s goal also places him as the fourth-youngest scorer in Premier League history, behind James Vaughan, James Milner, and Wayne Rooney.
The match, played amid a feverish atmosphere fueled by Liverpool’s widely reported pursuit of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, was a chaotic and breathless affair. Liverpool took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute when Ryan Gravenberch’s deflected shot found the back of the net. The momentum swung further in Liverpool’s favour just before halftime when Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was shown a straight red card by referee Simon Hooper for a rash challenge on Virgil van Dijk, a decision confirmed by a VAR check.
Liverpool appeared to have the game sealed within 30 seconds of the restart when Hugo Ekitike, a player who had spurned a move to Newcastle to join Liverpool, scored with a low, precise finish to make it 2-0.
However, Newcastle, with their numerical disadvantage, mounted an improbable comeback. Captain Bruno Guimarães headed home in the 57th minute to halve the deficit, igniting the home crowd. The hosts’ resilience was rewarded in the 88th minute when substitute William Osula bundled in an equaliser, seemingly snatching a heroic point for Eddie Howe’s side.
Just as a point seemed certain, Ngumoha, introduced in the latter stages, capitalised on space in the box to fire home the winner, a calm finish that stunned the home support who had moments earlier been celebrating their team’s fightback.
The result marks Liverpool’s second successive victory of the season, though manager Arne Slot will have concerns over his side’s defensive fragility, as they have now surrendered a two-goal lead for the second time in as many games. The victory, however, was a testament to the young talent emerging at the club, with Ekitike also scoring for the second consecutive game.
For Newcastle, the defeat was a cruel blow after a spirited display. The match underscored their ongoing issues in attack, with star striker Isak currently out of the picture amid transfer speculation and Gordon now facing a three-match suspension.
Liverpool’s next fixture is a highly anticipated home clash against Arsenal on Sunday, while Newcastle will look to regroup when they travel to Leeds United on Saturday.
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