Chelsea forward Joao Pedro made an impact against his former potential club, Newcastle United, as his team mounted a comeback from a 2-0 deficit to secure a draw.
At a lively St James’ Park, Chelsea faced an uphill battle after Nick Woltemade scored two well-executed goals, giving Newcastle a commanding lead at halftime.
However, Newcastle has a history of dropping points from winning positions, having lost 13 in the Premier League this season.
The atmosphere shifted when Chelsea captain Reece James scored with a precise 25-yard free-kick just minutes into the second half.
Tensions rose when Newcastle was denied a penalty after Trevoh Chalobah fouled Anthony Gordon in the box, shortly before Chelsea equalized.
Pedro, who chose Chelsea over Newcastle last summer, brought his team level by racing through on goal and sliding the ball past Aaron Ramsdale after taking advantage of a slip by defender Malick Thiaw.
The match intensified as it became more open, with Harvey Barnes missing a golden chance to secure a win for Newcastle late in the game, firing wide on a volley, leaving head coach Eddie Howe visibly frustrated on the sidelines.
Chelsea remains six points ahead of Newcastle in fourth place, while Howe’s team currently sits in 11th.
Although Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made an impressive save to deny Gordon’s acrobatic volley, the ball fell to Woltemade, who scored from close range, putting Newcastle ahead.
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Woltemade then extended the lead by skillfully redirecting Gordon’s cross into the bottom corner, marking his seventh goal of the season.
Newcastle had the perfect start at halftime, but they struggled to maintain their momentum in the second half.
Once again, Newcastle lamented their inability to hold onto points, a recurring theme this season, along with some questionable refereeing decisions.
At full-time, there was little joy for Newcastle fans as referee Andy Madley and his officials were met with loud boos.
Newcastle will face Manchester United at Old Trafford on December 26 (20:00 GMT) before playing Burnley at Turf Moor on December 30 (19:30 GMT).
Chelsea will host Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 27 (17:30 GMT) and then take on Bournemouth at home on December 30 (19:30 GMT).
