Kluivert hat-trick helps Bournemouth crush Newcastle

BeSoccer 6 months ago |

Reading time: minutes

Kluivert scored a hat-trick in Bournemouths 4-1 win at Newcastle. AFP

Justin Kluivert's stunning hat-trick snapped Newcastle's winning streak in style as Bournemouth stormed into the Premier League's top six with a rampant 4-1 win at St. James' Park on Saturday.

The Magpies were looking to set a club record with a 10th consecutive victory in all competitions but were thoroughly outplayed by the Cherries, who are themselves now on an 11-game unbeaten streak. Kluivert, son of former Newcastle striker Patrick Kluivert, was the star of the show before Milos Kerkez fired in a fourth in stoppage time.

Defeat leaves Newcastle still in fourth but now just one point clear of Bournemouth in the race for a place in next season's Champions League. Bournemouth have never qualified for European competition before and Justin Kluivert said that is the goal for an ambitious squad. "Why not dream big and let's see where we can end up," said the Dutch international. "Our run is also beautiful and that's what we showed here today, that we are here to make an impression".

Alexander Isak's hopes of matching the Premier League record scoring streak of 11 matches also came to an end on a humbling afternoon for the Magpies. The Swedish striker had struck in eight consecutive games but was barely given a sniff of a chance by a brilliant Bournemouth display. Andoni Iraola's men flew out of the traps and never let up to move above defending champions Manchester City in the table.

January 18, 2025

The visitors should have led inside four minutes when Dango Ouattara's shot was saved by Martin Dubravka and Antoine Semenyo blasted the rebound over. Bournemouth had to wait just two minutes more to take the lead when Semenyo's cut-back was swept into the far corner by Kluivert. Newcastle were shellshocked in the early stages but looked to have restored some order when Bruno Guimaraes headed in Lewis Hall's corner.

Yet the home side headed in at half-time behind once more after another classy finish from Kluivert to turn in Ouattara's pass. Bournemouth should have been well out of sight before they did finally get the third goal in stoppage time. Ouattara had a goal disallowed by a VAR review as the ball had gone out of play before the Burkina Faso international prodded home.

David Brooks's inventive backheel was then denied by a combination of Dubravka and the post. Bournemouth were robbed of a famous victory in midweek when Reece James' stoppage time free-kick rescued a point for Chelsea in a 2-2 draw. This time, though, they were not to be denied of three thoroughly deserved points.

Kluivert took aim from outside the box to complete his second hat-trick of the season. However, all three efforts this time came from open play after his trio of penalties downed Wolves in November. The impressive Kerkez, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, then drilled in the fourth to rub salt into Newcastle wounds.