Newcastle United took a big stride towards Champions League football next season, as a brace from Papiss Cisse helped them record an emphatic 2-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The Senegalese International put the visitors in front in the 19th minute from a volley deep inside the Blues box, and sealed the fixture in stoppage time with a jaw-dropping effort, to help his side secure three crucial points from the game.
The win lifted their point tally to 65 from 36 games and they are now just a point adrift of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429, who occupies the third spot. However, their position in the table remained unchanged at fifth, after Tottenham Hotspur raced to a comfortable 4-1 win against
Bolton Wanderers on the same night.
On the other hand, a defeat for Chelsea meant that they are almost certain to miss out on a top four finish, with just two more games to play and will need to beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, in order to register their place in the coveted
European competition next season.
The Blues, who had rested Juan Mata and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Frank-Lampard-c14097 in the game, got off to a good start and came close of scoring in the opening minutes.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Raul-Meireles-c30678 but failed to add to his tally of six league goals this season.
The Spaniard then delivered a searching cross inside the Newcastle area but http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Sturridge-c10076 dragged the ball off target with his effort.
However, against the tempo of the play, the Magpies went ahead in the 19th minute.
Santon made the most out of the space on the wing and sent a cross towards Cisse. The in-form striker took a first touch with his header to control the ball and fired home with a volley to score his 12th Newcastle goal.
A late attacking spell of football from the home side close to halftime break saw http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Branislav-Ivanovic-c7994 nudged the ball off-target from a corner kick.
The Magpies leading goal scorer this season, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Petr-Cech-c29837 and his other attempt bounced back
of the frame of the goal only minutes later.
The Blues then started to show signs of urgency as they charged forward in a bid to score the equalizer. Terry almost grabbed one in the 88th minute from a corner kick, but his header was cleared of the line by Santon.
However, Cisse deflated a late fight from Chelsea in stoppage time, as he grabbed his second goal in a sensational manner. The Senegalese player fired a stunning goal from 30 yards out at the top right corner to help his side come-out with an important win.
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