Watford 1-1 Newcastle: VAR denies Hornets last-minute win

Watford 1-1 Newcastle: VAR denies Hornets last-minute win at Vicarage Road as Ismaila Sarr punishes wasteful Magpies to extend Steve Bruce’s wait for a first league win of the season

  • Newcastle’s wait for their first Premier League win of the season continues 
  • The Magpies took the lead through a fine strike from Sean Longstaff 
  • However, they failed to capitalise on a number of chances and were punished
  • Ismaila Sarr found the net with 20 minutes remaining at Vicarage Road 
  • Watford thought they won it at the end but Josh King’s goal was ruled out by VAR 

An Ismaila Sarr equaliser denied Newcastle their first win of the Premier League season in a 1-1 draw at Watford.

The Magpies went into the game with just two points so far in the league, before Sean Longstaff’s curled 20-yard strike gave the visitors a 24th minute lead at Vicarage Road.

Newcastle looked on course for their first win of the season, finishing with 19 shots and with five on target, but were unable to add to their lead.

Newcastle’s wait for their first league win of the season continues after draw at Watford

Sean Longstaff gave the visitors the lead before the half time break with a long range effort

The English midfielder wheels away in celebration after putting the Magpies in front

Watford (4-2-3-1): Foster; Kiko, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose; Kucka, Sissoko; Sarr, Cleverley, Dennis; King

Subs not used: Cucho, Elliot, Kabasele, Masina, Sema

Scorer: Sarr (72)

Booked: Troost-Ekong, Rose, Dennis, Cathcart

Manager: Xisco

Newcastle (5-4-1): Darlow; Manquilo, Hayden, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie; Almiron, Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton’ Saint-Maximin

Subs not used: Anderson, Fraser, Gillespie, Hendrick, Krafth, Lewis, Schar

Scorer: Longstaff (23)

Booked: Manquilo, Ritchie, Darlow

Manager: Steve Bruce 

Instead it was Watford who levelled the contest, when Ismaila Sarr found himself unmarked to nod home at the far post for a 72nd minute equaliser.

The Hornets thought they had a winner in the 87th minute when Joshua King slotted the ball past goalkeeper Karl Darlow – but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

The game had all the markers of a hard-fought relegation battle with Jarred Gillett awarding seven yellow cards on his maiden Premier League game in charge.

It was a moment of history for the Australian, who became the first referee from outside the UK and Ireland to take charge in the English top flight.

In the first 90 seconds of the match, Darlow was called into action when Watford broke down the right, with King playing in Emmanuel Dennis – who took a shot from a tight angle but saw it blocked by the keeper.

In the 24th minute, the ball was played to Longstaff from Allan Saint-Maximin, before he curled a shot from 20 yards into the top left-hand corner, past Ben Foster’s outstretched hands.

Watford had to wait to find an opening to try to level, but just after half an hour Darlow dived low to save a low effort from Sarr – who had driven through the Newcastle midfield to create the opportunity.

Just before the break, Newcastle had an ideal opportunity to double their advantage as Saint-Maximin was played through in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he tried to round Foster but the defence were able to get back, and although he found Longstaff, the goalscorer fired over the bar.

The second half was less frantic than the first, and there were no significant chances for either side despite a break from Watford when they had the numerical advantage, but Javier Manquillo was able to get back and dispossess King.

Foster was forced into a double save in the 65th minute, first to deny Miguel Almiron from range, and then from Joelinton’s follow-up.

Newcastle ought to have been further in front with the likes of Joelinton wasteful 

And the Magpies were punished with Ismaila Sarr finding the net with 20 minutes remaining

Watford thought they had won it at the end through a strike from striker Joshua King

However, VAR intervened to deny the Norwegian of his first top flight goal in 27 games

Newcastle continued to press, with Foster making a save to deny Willock after he was played in by Saint-Maximin less than three minutes later.

However, the visitors were unable to make their possession count, and Watford found the equaliser in the 72nd minute.

Almiron had given away a needless corner, which was flicked on by King to the back post, where Sarr was unmarked and able to head the ball past Darlow.

In the 87th minute, King put the ball in the back of the net after Moussa Sissoko’s parried shot found the Hornets number seven, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

Both sides had opportunities in the remaining minutes but neither could find the breakthrough and it finished 1-1.




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