Chelsea recovers to draw 2-2 at Newcastle

· The Gleaner
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England on December 20, 2025.-Owen Humphreys/PA via AP
Chelsea's Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League football  match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England on December 20, 2025.- Owen Humphreys/PA via AP

Chelsea recovered from conceding two early goals to Nick Woltemade to draw 2-2 with Newcastle in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Robert Sanchez smashed a long clearance up to Joao Pedro, who headed the ball forward and ended up collecting it himself after Fabian Schar slipped. Pedro slotted a finish underneath Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to earn Chelsea a point in the 66th minute.

Woltemade put Chelsea 2-0 up by scoring from close range in the fourth minute and then glancing home a cross from Anthony Gordon in the 20th.

Reece James launched Chelsea’s fightback by curling a free kick in off the post in the 49th.

Fourth-place Chelsea trimmed its gap to Arsenal to seven points ahead of the leader’s match at Everton later Saturday. Newcastle missed a chance to climb into the top half of the standings.

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There are eight games in total on Saturday, including second-place Manchester City — which is two points behind Arsenal — hosting West Ham and Liverpool visiting Tottenham.