Georginio Wijnaldum scored four goals as Newcastle United recorded their first win of the English Premier League season in style on Sunday, crushing Norwich City 6-2 at St James’ Park.
The Netherlands international scored twice and Ayoze Perez added a third as Newcastle led 3-2 at the end of an action-packed first half, with Dieumerci Mbokani and Nathan Redmond replying for the visitors.
Wijnaldum followed up by scoring two more after the break, along with a 64th-minute strike by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Photo: Reuters
Steve McClaren’s Newcastle remain in the relegation zone, but moved from last place to 18th in the standings — two points behind promoted AFC Bournemouth.
The win also sets them up perfectly for this weekend’s derby trip to fellow strugglers Sunderland.
Newcastle took a 14th-minute lead when, after a one-two between Moussa Sissoko and Mitrovic had not come off, the France international calmly shifted the ball before sliding it into the path of Wijnaldum, who finished efficiently.
The lead lasted just six minutes, when Sissoko’s absence allowed Robbie Brady, who had earlier rattled the woodwork from distance, to find Martin Olsson down the left and his inviting cross was touched home by Mbokani.
However, Wijnaldum struck once again, heading Sissoko’s 26th-minute cross past goalkeeper John Ruddy, and when Perez beat Ruddy from close range after Olsson had blocked his initial effort, the Magpies appeared to be well on their way to victory with 12 minutes of the first half remaining.
However, Norwich grabbed a second lifeline within seconds. Olsson was allowed time and space on the left to cross, and Redmond was unchallenged as he volleyed home from beyond the far post.
As the former England coach talked to his players at the break, McClaren’s emotions would have been decidedly mixed after 45 minutes, which had seen them play some wonderful, incisive soccer and also twice gift Norwich a way back into the game.
Norwich laid siege to the Newcastle goal during the opening stages of the second half, but the task became more difficult with 64 minutes gone.
Sissoko floated the ball into Mitrovic’s run and the Serbia international controlled with his chest before smashing a left-foot volley past the helpless Ruddy, whose afternoon took a further turn for the worse two minutes later.
Sissoko and Wijnaldum combined to allow Daryl Janmaat to cross, with Wijnaldum timing his run to perfection to complete his hat-trick with a close-range header. Although Redmond later struck the upright at the other end, Wijnaldum’s 85th-minute shot was deflected into the top corner to round off a vital win for his team.
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