Newcastle Draws Brighton, Stays Fourth in Race

Newcastle United earned a crucial 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion after Alexander Isak converted an 89th-minute penalty, keeping their Champions League ambitions alive. Brighton took the lead through former Newcastle player Yankuba Minteh, whose sale last summer was forced by financial rules. Newcastle saw two earlier penalty appeals overturned by VAR before finally being awarded a decisive spot-kick for a Yasin Ayari handball. Newcastle sit fourth in the Premier League with three games left, three points clear of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, both of whom have a game in hand. Both teams missed late chances to win in stoppage time, while Brighton remain 10th, hampering their European hopes. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe described the point as valuable given upcoming matches against Chelsea, Everton, and Arsenal.