In a game that epitomized the magic and madness of the FA Cup, Newcastle United advanced to the fourth round after defeating Bournemouth 7-6 on penalties, following a 3-3 draw of breathtaking drama at St. James’ Park.
The hero of the hour was goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, whose three vital saves in the shootout capped a night of relentless twists and sent the home fans into raptures.
The match, an instant classic, saw six goals, four separate leads, and a stunning equalizer with virtually the last kick of 120 tense minutes. After a cagey first half, Harvey Barnes broke the deadlock for Newcastle in the 50th minute, latching onto a clever Nick Woltemade pass before finishing calmly.
The Cherries, however, responded with a quickfire double. First, Alex Scott tapped in at the far post in the 62nd minute before David Brooks curled a superb effort from the edge of the area just six minutes later to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Newcastle appeared to be heading for defeat until deep into added time when substitute Anthony Gordon was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Gordon picked himself up to convert the penalty with impeccable nerve, sending the game into extra time.
The pendulum swung again in the 118th minute when Gordon turned provider, delivering a deep cross for Barnes to head home his second, seemingly a late winner. Yet, in a final, gut-wrenching twist, Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier capitalized on a defensive lapse to poke home an equalizer in the 122nd minute, sending the tie to the lottery of penalties.
The shootout was an epic in itself, extending into sudden death. Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade and Bruno Guimarães saw their efforts saved and missed, while Bournemouth’s Evanilson also failed to convert.
With the score at 6-6, Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw scored to pile the pressure on Bournemouth’s Bafodé Diakité. Ramsdale, the on-loan Southampton keeper, then cemented his status as the match-winner, diving to his left to save Diakité’s spot-kick and seal a monumental victory for the Magpies.
For Newcastle, the win continues a remarkable run of form at St. James’ Park, where they have not lost since September. However, the triumph came at a potential cost, with defender Tino Livramento forced off with another injury and several key players forced to play the full 120 minutes just days before a crucial Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City.
For a spirited Bournemouth, playing their first game since the £65 million sale of top scorer Antoine Semenyo, the performance offered hope despite the painful exit, as they repeatedly fought back against the odds on a bitterly cold Tyneside afternoon.