Justin Kluivert was the hero for Bournemouth, netting a sensational hat-trick as the Cherries ended Newcastle’s nine-match winning streak with a commanding victory at St James’ Park. The result not only stretched Bournemouth’s unbeaten Premier League run to 10 games but also halted Newcastle’s bid to set a new club record for consecutive wins.
Bournemouth took control early, with Kluivert opening the scoring by calmly slotting home Antoine Semenyo’s cutback. Newcastle, struggling to find their rhythm, managed an equalizer when Bruno Guimarães rose to meet Lewis Hall’s corner, his header narrowly eluding Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Despite the equalizer, Bournemouth maintained their dominance. Kluivert restored the lead with another composed finish after Guimaraes lost possession near the edge of the box. The visitors thought they had extended their lead further when Dango Ouattara scored, but VAR ruled the ball had gone out of play during the buildup, chalking off the goal.
Kluivert completed his treble in style, punishing a poor pass from Anthony Gordon with a stunning strike into the far corner. Milos Kerkez added a fourth in injury time with a ferocious left-footed shot, capping a memorable evening for the 1,700 Bournemouth fans who had traveled to Newcastle.
The loss was a major blow for Newcastle, who were touted as potential title contenders earlier this season. Their defeat sees them remain in fourth place, just one point ahead of a resurgent Bournemouth. The Cherries, meanwhile, could climb to sixth place if Aston Villa fails to beat Arsenal later in the day.
