Newcastle United 2 Manchester United 1
Newcastle's William Osula celebrates his winner. Picture: Getty Images
A flat performance from Manchester United was punished in the closing seconds of the match, with 22-year-old Osula firing a goal that ended Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run as the club’s interim manager.
Newcastle’s spirited second-half performance ended with a moment to savour, as Osula’s sparkling effort was struck so cleanly that United goalkeeper Senne Lammens didn’t move as the ball arrived past him with clinical precision.
This was a classy goal worthy of winning any football match and for a side that overcame the numerical disadvantage for so long, it was worthy of the lavish celebrations that followed.
After Liverpool’s shock defeat at Wolves on Tuesday night and Chelsea winning convincingly at Aston Villa earlier last night, United should have been eyeing up a victory that would have given them a firm advantage in the race to secure third place in the Premier League.
So Carrick would have been frustrated by the lack of penetration from his team, as their passing was laboured and they allowed their opponents to believe they could grab the vital third goal in this contest.
In the end, United’s lack of application was punished by Osula’s magical moment, in a game that rarely followed a predictable script.
This match was a slow burner, but it came to the boil in thrilling fashion amid a dramatic finale to the first half.
United had a golden chance to take the lead a minute before half-time, as Matheus Cunha’s shot was saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Bryan Mbeumo blasted a shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
The first big twist in this story then arrived as Ramsey was shown a second yellow card after referee Peter Bankes declared he was guilty of simulation as he tumbled in the box after he brushed off Lammens.
It was a decision that sparked this game into life and with the Newcastle fans venting their fury, referee Bankes then awarded the home side a penalty as Anthony Gordon tumbled under a challenge from United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Gordon hauled himself off the floor to fire Newcastle into a lead, with Fernandes’ frustration over the penalty decision rumbling on as he protested to the referee as the celebrations echoed around St James’ Park.
The jubilation did not last long as United were level before the half-time whistle sounded, with Casemiro heading home Fernandes’ cross to give Carrick’s side a quick route back into this match.
United would have expected to assert their dominance with the extra man after the break, but Newcastle manager Eddie Howe rolled the dice as he left two men up front and challenged his side to overcome their numerical disadvantage.
The message inspired an impressive response, as it was Newcastle who pressed for the third goal of this game in the opening exchanges of the half.
With the Newcastle fans still seething from what they saw as the injustice of the Ramsey red card, Howe has clearly urged his players to use direct tactics to unsettle United. The visitors finally showed some attacking menace 15 minutes from time, with Leny Yoro missing a glorious chance to fire his side ahead as he was found in the box by Fernandes and should not have given Ramsdale a chance to make the save that kept his side level.
United were denied by Ramsdale once again as Joshua Zirkzee thought he was about to score the winning goal, but that honour would fall to Osula.
The 22-year-old Dane may never score a better goal than the one that gave Newcastle a win against mighty Manchester United, with the deafening cheer that greeted the final whistle echoing well beyond St James’ Park.