Newcastle’s hopes for continental football next season took a hit when Everton, through Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late penalty, managed to secure a 1-1 draw in Tuesday’s Premier League fixture.
Alexander Isak had initially propelled Newcastle into the lead in the 15th minute at St James’ Park. Despite the home team’s sustained dominance, two VAR interventions in the latter half played a pivotal role as Everton salvaged a crucial point in their battle against relegation.
Initially, VAR disallowed a goal for Dan Burn, denying Newcastle a 2-0 advantage. Subsequently, it detected a foul by substitute Paul Dummett on Ashley Young in the penalty area. Referee Tony Harrington awarded a penalty after reviewing the footage on the sideline monitor.
Calvert-Lewin, who had been brought on as a substitute and hadn’t scored since Oct. 29, confidently struck the ball past goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the 88th minute to equalize and provide Everton with a buffer from the relegation zone.
In another match Tottenham’s top four hopes diminished in 1-1 draw against West Ham Ange Postecoglou’s team missed the chance to overtake fourth-placed Aston Villa as they settled for a draw against West Ham.
Brennan Johnson’s early goal provided hope for Spurs, but West Ham quickly equalized through Kurt Zouma. Despite Tottenham’s dominance in possession, neither side could break the deadlock. In a spectacle of lights and fireworks at London Stadium, both teams missed opportunities to secure victory, with Michail Antonio failing to convert a promising chance for West Ham early in the game.
