St James' Park was reveling in a glorious attacking display with the atmosphere inside the ground turning into a carnival — every completed pass was greeted with an "olé" while the crowd bellowed "shoot" at goalkeeper Nick Pope whenever he took possession.
We still had 60 minutes to play.
In a match that was billed as a battle for the Champions League, Newcastle United administered a historically brutal beatdown of Tottenham. By the time the clock had registered all of 21 minutes, the Magpies had flown to a 5-0 lead over Spurs with many traveling supporters already headed for the exit.
Only Manchester City (back on Sep. 21, 2019) had reached five goals quicker (18 minutes) during a 8-0 hammering of Watford, but while we've all grown used to City's goalscoring feats, we're not as familiar with the sights of Jacob Murphy and Joelinton hammering them beyond Hugo Lloris.
The first came from Murphy with just 1:01 on the clock.
WHAT A START FOR THE MAGPIES!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 23, 2023
Joelinton made it 2-0 in the sixth-minute with a lovely piece of control followed by a composed finish after rounding Lloris.
Newcastle are up 2-0 on Tottenham in the first five minutes!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 23, 2023
Newcastle and Murphy then entered dreamland in the ninth-minute after the winger spanked one in from 25 yards out. His reaction was priceless.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!
Not even Jacob Murphy can believe Newcastle are up 3-0 in 8 minutes!
: @USANetwork | #NEWTOT pic.twitter.com/AsRSpDGWzN— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 23, 2023
If the third was a special finish, the fourth was a sublime piece of creation — Joe Willock released Alexander Isak with an outside-of-the-boot pass and the Swede got his first of the afternoon.
¡¡¡GOLEADA Y TOTTENHAM NO REACCIONA!!!
¡ISAK! El goleador se hace presente en el marcador, ¡El cuarto del encuentro!⚽️ Newcastle 4-0 Tottenham
EN VIVO por @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/7JXMnbm6fD#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/FfdDZG0g1K
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) April 23, 2023
Just two minutes later, Isak made it 5-0 with Tottenham well and truly on tilt.
Can you believe it?
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 23, 2023
Cristian Stellini made his first change in the 23rd minute by taking off midfielder Pape Matar Sarr and bringing on defender Davinson Sánchez. You get the feeling that Spurs would've welcomed the full-time whistle at halftime, and during the break Lloris was replaced by Fraser Forster.
The changes helped a little as Harry Kane pulled one back in the 49th.
¡RESPONDE TOTTENHAM!
Apareció @HKane para el de la honra en @SpursOfficial.¿Habrá más goles de los visitantes?
⚽️ Newcastle 5-1 Tottenham
EN VIVO por @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/7JXMnbm6fD#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/OhO1GyvgAE
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) April 23, 2023
But Callum Wilson eventually restored Newcastle's five-goal lead in the 67th after more clueless defending by Pedro Porro.
Miggy comes off the bench and sets up Newcastle's 6th goal!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 23, 2023
Tottenham's "shit" season is now almost certainly ending without Champions League football in 2023-24. Is this the result that ultimately sends Kane to Manchester United? Even their Europa League place is in jeopardy with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Brighton giving chase.
Regardless, get ready to hear the Champions League anthem at St James' Park.
Premier League table
