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Joao Pedro played a pivotal role as Chelsea fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at a raucous St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.

The home side made a blistering start and appeared to be cruising after racing into a commanding 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

Nick Woltemade was the architect of Newcastle’s early dominance, scoring twice to put Eddie Howe’s side firmly in control and ignite the home crowd.

Chelsea struggled to settle in the first half and found it difficult to cope with Newcastle’s intensity and direct approach.

However, the momentum of the contest shifted dramatically after the break.

Chelsea emerged with far greater purpose and were rewarded when Reece James reduced the deficit with a superbly struck direct free-kick, giving the visitors renewed belief.

That goal injected urgency into Chelsea’s play and unsettled Newcastle, who began to sit deeper as pressure mounted.

The equaliser arrived courtesy of Joao Pedro, who made his first return to St James’ Park since his proposed summer move to Newcastle collapsed.

The Brazilian forward capitalised on a costly slip from defender Malick Thiaw, showing sharp awareness and pace to burst through on goal before calmly finishing past Aaron Ramsdale to level the scores at 2-2.

Newcastle still had opportunities to snatch victory late on, with Harvey Barnes twice going close and Anthony Elanga firing narrowly wide in the closing stages.

Despite those chances, neither side could find a decisive winner, and the points were ultimately shared.

The match carried added intrigue given Joao Pedro’s recent history with Newcastle. During the summer, the Magpies had a £55 million bid accepted by Brighton & Hove Albion, only for Chelsea to step in and hijack the deal.

His goal on Tyneside ensured his return was a memorable one.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has long been an admirer of the 24-year-old, having previously attempted to sign him in 2022 when the club agreed a £30 million fee with Watford before opting to pursue Alexander Isak instead.

Joao Pedro went on to join Brighton and later secured his move to Chelsea.

Speaking about the forward, Howe has been open in his praise, describing him as a technically gifted player with the ability to link play, lead the line, and score important goals.

Although he insisted he has only watched Joao Pedro within the context of Chelsea’s matches, his admiration for the Brazilian’s all-round qualities is clear.

After the game, Joao Pedro acknowledged the challenge Chelsea faced at St James’ Park. He admitted his side struggled early on but felt their second-half display deserved credit.

The forward revealed that his goal came from a pre-planned idea discussed with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at half-time, highlighting the awareness and confidence behind his finish.

While pleased with the comeback, Joao Pedro stressed the importance of learning how to manage such games better in the Premier League, noting that slow starts can be costly.

The draw leaves Newcastle six points adrift of Chelsea after 17 league matches. Although inconsistency has hampered the Magpies this season, the result extended their unbeaten home run to 10 games.

For Chelsea, the comeback showcased resilience, while for Newcastle, it was a frustrating afternoon that nevertheless underlined their continued strength at St James’ Park.