A bitterly cold afternoon on Tyneside was set alight by a classic FA Cup encounter, as Newcastle United finally overcame AFC Bournemouth in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout to book their place in the fourth round. The hero of the hour was Aaron Ramsdale, whose decisive save from Bafodé Diakité sealed a 7-6 victory on penalties after a pulsating 120 minutes had ended 3-3.
A Rollercoaster of Emotions in Normal Time
The drama was not confined to the shootout. In a match where both managers rotated their squads, the momentum swung wildly. Newcastle took the lead shortly after half-time when Harvey Barnes finished a slick move, sliding the ball past Bournemouth keeper Djordje Petrovic.
However, Andoni Iraola's Cherries responded with a quickfire double. First, Alex Scott tapped in at the far post after good work from David Brooks and Evanilson. Minutes later, Brooks himself curled a superb effort past Ramsdale to stun St. James' Park and put the visitors ahead.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Newcastle won a penalty after Sandro Tonali was brought down. Anthony Gordon kept his cool from the spot to seemingly send the tie to extra time.
Extra-Time Agony and Ecstasy
The additional 30 minutes provided yet more twists. Deep into the second period, Harvey Barnes thought he had won it for the Magpies, powering a header home from Gordon's cross. Yet, in a stunning finale, Marcus Tavernier struck for Bournemouth in the 122nd minute to make it 3-3 and send the tie to the ultimate lottery of penalties.
Ramsdale Steps Up as the Shootout Hero
In the tense shootout, it was the on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper who made the crucial difference. Ramsdale saved efforts from Evanilson, Álex Jiménez, and finally Bafodé Diakité to send Newcastle through. The moment of victory was captured in a jubilant scene as defender Malick Thiaw rushed to embrace the match-winner.
The result means Eddie Howe's side live to fight another day in the FA Cup, their hopes kept alive by a combination of resilience and Ramsdale's heroics. For Bournemouth, it was a cruel exit after contributing so much to a magnificent cup tie.
