NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom (AFP) – Papiss Cisse scored a fortuitous injury-time winner as Newcastle United edged in-form West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.
Substitute Sammy Ameobi’s shot from the edge of the box flicked off Cisse’s back and wrong-footed visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster to give Alan Pardew’s side all three points at St James’ Park.
Demba Ba had claimed his seventh goal in nine starts to put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute, but Romelu Lukaku looked to have given the Baggies a point when he headed home Zoltan Gera’s cross 10 minutes into the second half.
The home side had the first real chance in the 14th minute when Shola Ameobi dug out a deep cross from the right that found Ba unmarked to flash a close-range header inches wide.
Newcastle began to dominate possession, and Davide Santon brought a fine save out of Foster with a long-range drive.
But the visitors had a great chance to go ahead in the 26th minute when Graham Dorrans fed Lukaku, who was clean through on goal but saw his left-foot shot pushed away for a corner by the advancing Tim Krul.
Shola Ameobi blazed a 32nd-minute chance into the upper tier before the hosts finally broke the deadlock three minutes later.
Krul’s long goal-kick was flicked into the box by Shola Ameobi and when Gareth McAuley made a mess of things, Ba nipped in to prod the ball past Foster.
Lukaku had another superb chance five minutes before the break when he was put through by Youssouf Mulumbu, but once again could find no way past the impressive Krul.
After a slow start to the second half, Lukaku got the goal his performance deserved when he squeezed in between Santon and Fabricio Coloccini to nod home Gera’s centre from close range.
Markus Rosenborg came close to putting the visitors ahead on a number of occasions, but with a draw beckoning, Sammy Ameobi’s shot cannoned off Cisse and beat Foster to keep Newcastle’s fine home record on track.
