Newcastle United lift the Diriyah Season Cup : Al-Hilal 0 Newcastle 5 | OneFootball

It ended Al-Hilal 0 Newcastle 5.

Eddie Howe’s side back in action, as they played their first friendly in preparation for competitive action later this month.

Two excellent Joelinton finishes in the first half sending Newcastle United on their way to victory.

Substitutes Miguel Almiron (x2) and Dylan Stephenson adding another three second-half goals.

It sounds like a stroll but it started off as a very competitive feisty match, with the feisty part of it remaining to the bitter end. Al-Hilal players clearly not enjoying getting hammered on home soil, in front of their fans!

Newcastle United using 22 players in all and a great workout in difficult hot and humid conditions.

Excellent work by Murphy on the right seeing a quality cross to the far post, a Joelinton power header opening the scoring on eight minutes.

Al-Hilal were lookin dangerous in an open game, played in front of a crowd giving it a decent atmosphere, especially for a friendly.

Former Man Utd striker Odion Ighalo having a clear chance to equalise on 23 minutes but a brilliant Karius save denying him from only six yards out.

Murphy down the right and again the ball eventually reaches Joelinton, only for the keeper to save high to his right.

Allan Saint-Maximin looking lively and setting up Murphy on the half hour, his effort deflected for a corner. ASM then getting possession after that corner, his excellent cross begging to be finished but nobody on the end of it.

A bit of a worry to see Chris Wood forced off after 39 minutes, appearing to be holding his side. I might have missed it but there didn’t appear to be any contact / foul that caused the issue.

Willock and Joelinton then went close to adding a second goal and indeed the Brazilian did go on to get another chance, Willock sending him through beyond the backline, Joelinton comfortably finishing.

After the break, more of the same for Newcastle, though Manquillo tried to cut the lead but his back pass just going past the post. NUFC though surged up the other end and half-time sub Almiron very unlucky to see his 20 yard shot strike the bar.

Ighalo was frustrated as he got completely bossed by Botman and Lascelles and a shocking foul by him down the back of Almiron’s achilles, was very poor for a friendly. Only a yellow and an apology from the former Man Utd forward.

Sven Botman had a very good header from a corner saved and then Elliot Anderson hit a post. However, Miggy wasn’t to be denied.

On 75 minutes he intercepted a pass and despite being dragged back he kept on going, his 20 yard shot in off the post.

(Thanks to Phil Taylor for the photo)

Then seven minutes later Almiron’s second and Newcastle’s fourth, Longstaff crossing and the Paraguayan volleying home.

It was then left to Fraser to set up Dylan Stephenson and the youngster completed the scoring.

A great workout against decent opposition and VERY competitive.

One great feature of the game was seeing the Newcastle players so determined to try and preserve the clean sheet.

Eddie Howe clearly instilling some very good habits and character into this NUFC squad.

Final scoreline:

Al-Hilal 0 Newcastle 5

Goals:

Joelinton 8, 43, Almiron 75, 82, Stephenson 85

Newcastle team v Al-Hilal:

Loris Karius (Mark Gillespie 46), Javier Manquillo (Lewis Miley 88), Jamaal Lascelles (Jay Turner-Cooke 88), Sven Botman (Dan Burn 60), Jamal Lewis (Alex Murphy 77), Jonjo Shelvey (Joe White 65), Joelinton (Elliot Anderson 56), Joe Willock (Ryan Fraser 62), Jacob Murphy (Miguel Almiron 46), Allan Saint-Maximin (Dylan Stephenson 77), Chris Wood (Sean Longstaff 39)

Complete Newcastle United match and live TV schedule so far confirmed up to end of February 2023:

Saturday 17 December 2022 – Newcastle v Rayo Vallecano (12.30pm) Friendly

Wednesday 21 December 2022 – Newcastle v Bournemouth (7.45pm) League Cup fourth round

Monday 26 December 2022 – Leicester v Newcastle (3pm) Amazon Prime

Saturday 31 December 2022 – Newcastle v Leeds (3pm)

Tuesday 3 January 2023 – Arsenal v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 7 January 2023 – Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle (6pm) BBC 1 and BBC i-player

Sunday 15 January 2023 – Newcastle v Fulham (2pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 21 January 2023 – Crystal Palace v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 4 February 2023 – Newcastle v West Ham (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 11 February 2023 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 18 February 2023 – Newcastle v Liverpool (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 25 February 2023 – Newcastle v Brighton (12.30pm) BT Sport