Newcastle 4-0 Girona: Brilliant Toon run riot as Joelinton runs the show at SJP
Newcastle United kicked off the Sela Weekender with a thumping 4-0 win over Girona; the in-form La Liga side who finished third in the Spanish top flight last season.
Sean Longstaff opened the scoring at St James' Park just three minutes in, Jacob Murphy bagged his fifth of pre-season, Anthony Gordon scored on his first start of the summer and Longstaff grabbed another before the break, with the electric Alexander Isak also having a penalty saved that he did so well to win in an utterly one-sided first 45 minutes.
The second half was more competitive - which was probably just as well - and saw teenage talent Trevan Sanusi feature, showing more flashes of promise after cameos in each of our previous three friendlies in Hull and Japan.
As expected, the squad was a mix of young and old - a completely different XI is set to start tomorrow's 4pm clash with Stade Brest - and featured the return of Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak up top, Joelinton in midfield and top young talents Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento at full-back with Nick Pope in goal. It was also a big moment for Jamie Miley, as Lewis' older brother was handed his first senior start in front of 31,958 at St James' Park:
NUFC XI: Pope - Livramento, Krafth, Burn (c), Hall - J. Miley, Joelinton, Longstaff - Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Ruddy, Gillespie, Heffernan, Parkinson, Stanton, Harrison, Hernes, Munda, Sanusi, Shahar.
The likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Lloyd Kelly, Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes, Odysseas Vlachodimos and new signing Will Osula missed out, suggesting they'll play tomorrow. The bench featured U21 talents Trevan Sanusi, Leo Shahar and Alfie Harrison, with veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy also in the squad as he waits for his first appearance since arriving on a free transfer this summer.
Sandro Tonali (ineligible) missed out once again along with Callum Wilson (back), Lewis Miley (foot), Sven Botman (ACL), Jamaal Lascelles (ACL), Matt Targett (Achilles), Martin Dubravka, Jamal Lewis, Harrison Ashby, Alex Murphy (hip), Joe White (back) and Garang Kuol (knee).
For the visitors, former Man Utd duo Daley Blind and Donny Van de beek both started, with former Spurs stopper Paulo Gazzaniga in goal for the La Liga side who'll be competing in this year's UEFA Champions League.
Supporters flocked to the St James' STACK ahead of the 7.30pm kick off, enjoying food, drinks and entertainment in our new fanzone that opened on Thursday behind the Gallowgate before the real action got underway as Premier League referee and Toon fan Michael Oliver blew his whistle.
Anyone who got to their seat late might've missed the opening goal, as Sean Longstaff opened the scoring less than three minutes in. Jacob Murphy did superbly to drive through the Girona midfield and put Isak in behind. The Swede cut it back to Livramento and his ball across the box was met by Longstaff, who slid a low effort past Gazzaniga who couldn't get down quick enough. 1-0 and chants of "Sean Longstaff, he's one of our own" belted around the
The second came 10 minutes later after some good work down our left between Gordon and Isak, with their interplay in tight areas ending with our star striker picking out an unmarked Hall in the box with a dinked cross. Hall's header was glanced to the far post and fell to Murphy, who lashed home at the Gallowgate to make it FIVE pre-season goals from our in-form right winger. 2-0!
At the other end, Pope was called into action an made a smart save low down to his right before we made it three just 30 seconds later. The dominant Joelinton pinched the ball back on the half way line and Gordon was quickly slipped in behind down the left before holding off his man and firing a left-footed effort past Gazzaniga and into the far corner. 3-0!
https://twitter.com/NUFCblogcouk/status/1821985114932572549
Moments later, Isak won a penalty after some brilliant skill bamboozled the Girona defender who clumsily brought him down in the box. Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and we had the chance to make it FOUR before the 20-minute mark, only for Isak's spot kick to be saved as Gazzaniga guessed right with a smart low save.
Five minutes later, Dan Burn almost got in on the action. After Gordon left his man for dead and Livramento's teasing cross from the right, Burn arrived on the edge of the box and lashed Longstaff's cut-back towards goal, but it was stopped well by Gazzaniga who showed quick reflexes to parry away.
Joelinton should've made it four just before the break after Murphy's burst of pace and perfect cross put it on a plate for the Brazilian, but his header struck the bar before Longstaff smashed the rebound beyond static Girona defenders and a helpless Gazzaniga. 4-0! Murphy deserves praise for his work in the build up, yet it was an attack that started with Joelinton's powerful drive from deep and Isak's stinging effort from range.
Half-time and Girona, who had never played Newcastle before today's meeting, were probably wishing there wasn't another 45 minutes to play. Pre-season or not, it was hard to believe they lost just seven of 38 games in La Liga last season on their way to a third-placed finish.
Howe was keen to get 90 minutes into the legs of some, opposed to making wholesale changes at the break, but he did make one substitution as exciting winger Trevan Sanusi replaced Gordon - who was brilliant but was blowing early - for the second half.
The 17-year-old was our biggest positive from that 2-0 defeat to Yokohama last time out and he made an immediate impression here, always showing for the ball, driving at his man and trying to make things happen down our left.
Thankfully for us and the Spaniards, it was a more competitive second half and featured Pope's second save of the game as our No.1 did well to parry a low effort away for a corner after getting down quickly at his near post.
Next up, Newcastle United Women take on AC Milan in tomorrow's 1pm kick-off before the Sela Weekender finished with Eddie Howe's Mags taking on Stade Brest; a French side who finished third in Ligue 1 last season.
Potential XI vs Brest: Vlachodimos - Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Lewis - Harrison, Bruno, Willock - Almiron, Osula, Barnes.
- 22nd July – SpVgg Unterhaching 1-3 Newcastle (⚽ Barnes ⚽ Murphy ⚽ Isak)
- 27th July – Hull City 0-2 Newcastle (⚽ Isak, ⚽ Murphy)
- 31st July – Urawa Red Diamonds 1-4 Newcastle (⚽ Isak, ⚽⚽ Murphy, ⚽ Hall)
- 3rd August – Yokohama F. Marinos 2-0 Newcastle
- 9th August – Newcastle 4-0 Girona (⚽⚽ Longstaff, ⚽ Murphy, ⚽ Gordon)
- 10th August – Newcastle Women vs AC Milan Women (1pm)
- 10th August – Newcastle vs Stade Brest (4pm)
