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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe praised Alexander Isak’s ice-cold composure after the striker netted a late penalty to earn the club a 1-1 draw at Brighton on Sunday, keeping their Champions League bid on course despite a chaotic afternoon of VAR drama.
The Swedish forward coolly slotted home from the spot in the 88th minute to score his 23rd Premier League goal of the season, levelling the match after Newcastle had twice seen penalty decisions overturned by VAR.
Newcastle had initially fallen behind to a first-half strike from Yankuba Minteh, the Gambian winger sold by the Magpies last summer.
But Isak’s late intervention ensured Howe’s side took a valuable point from the Amex Stadium, moving them three points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest.
Twice earlier in the second half, referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot, first for a foul on Anthony Gordon and then after a challenge on Joe Willock—only for both decisions to be reversed after VAR reviews showed the incidents occurred outside the box and involved simulation, respectively.
Despite having to prepare twice for a spot-kick that never came, Isak held his nerve when it mattered most, converting at the third time of asking after Brighton substitute Yasin Ayari was penalised for a handball following Fabian Schar’s free-kick.
Howe hailed Isak’s mentality, saying, “He’s got that ruthless edge when it comes to goals. It would have been easy for him to lose focus after what happened with the earlier penalties, but he stepped up and delivered in a pressure moment.”
“It was a brilliant penalty in a big moment because we needed something from the game. Losing would’ve been damaging for us,” he added.
Isak’s 23-goal haul makes him the first Newcastle player since club legend Alan Shearer in 2002 to reach that tally in a single Premier League season.
The draw kept Newcastle in fourth place, with Forest, Chelsea, and others still in the hunt for a top-five finish, which would secure Champions League qualification this year.
Forest can join Newcastle and Chelsea on 63 points if they win at Crystal Palace on Monday, setting up a tense final stretch to the campaign.
