Joelinton opened the scoring in the Diriyah Season Cup clash after heading home from Jacob Murphy’s lofted cross before the Brazilian midfielder doubled his and United’s advantage before the half-time whistle as his powerful effort squirmed past Hilal goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf.
Miguel Almirón’s impressive finish extended the Magpies’ lead and after the Paraguayan forward’s side-footed volley added further gloss to the scoreline, Stephenson grabbed his first goal for his boyhood club in the final stages to confirm a convincing victory for the Magpies in Riyadh and their first trophy under the ownership.
There were also Newcastle first-team bows for the likes of teenage trio Alex Murphy, Jay Turner-Cooke and Lewis Miley as the contest ended with several players to have featured for the Magpies’ Academy.
Eddie Howe handed a debut to goalkeeper Loris Karius, who joined the Magpies on a short-term contract in September 2022 and the German shot-stopper prevented the hosts from gaining an early lead after holding Hamad Al-Yami's first-time effort.
In the 7th minute, Newcastle took the lead through Joelinton’s powerful header as the South American midfielder connected with Murphy’s lofted cross, following impressive work from the right winger, before directing his attempt into the net at the back post.
Karius ensured Newcastle maintained their one-goal cushion after holding Luciano Vietto’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area before the Argentine later directed a header over the crossbar from André Carillo’s cross.
Karius produced a crucial stop to deny former Manchester United forward Odion Ighalo as the Nigerian connected with a cross from the right flank but the experienced Biberach-born goalkeeper kept out the striker’s close-range effort with a strong right hand.
Newcastle United striker Chris Wood was forced to withdraw before half-time after suffering an injury before, in the 43rd minute, Joelinton extended Newcastle’s advantage. After racing onto Joe Willock’s neat through ball, the Brazilian’s shot towards goal found its way underneath Al-Mayouf before rolling into the bottom left-hand corner.
In the second-half, Newcastle almost conceded an own-goal as Javier Manquillo’s intended pass to Mark Gillespie rolled past the substitute goalkeeper but luckily trickled past the far right-hand post.
Newcastle introduced Miguel Almirón from the substitutes’ bench before the restart and the Paraguayan, the Magpies’ current top goalscorer this term with eight Premier League strikes, rattled the crossbar after firing a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Joe Willock thought he had extended Newcastle’s lead further on the hour mark after connecting with Elliot Anderson’s cross but the 22-year-old midfielder saw his close-range effort ruled out for offside.
Anderson went narrowly close to netting his first goal for his boyhood club at senior level as the 20-year-old latched onto Allan Saint-Maximin’s pass before drilling a low strike off the foot of the right-hand post.
In the 76th minute, Newcastle netted their third as Almirón won the ball high up the pitch and after advancing into the box, fired a vicious effort into the bottom right-hand corner via the right-hand post.
In the 81st minute, Almirón grabbed his second of the night after connecting with Sean Longstaff’s cross-field pass before directing a side-footed volley into the far left-hand corner.
Stephenson, who joined the Magpies' Academy at the age of 14, notched the Magpies' fifth of the evening in the 87th minute as the Blyth-born striker was on hand to finish at the back post, firing the ball home from Ryan Fraser's teasing cross.
Newcastle United: Loris Karius (Mark Gillespie 45), Javier Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles (c) (Lewis Miley 87), Sven Botman (Dan Burn 61), Jamal Lewis (Alex Murphy 79), Jonjo Shelvey (Joe White 65), Joelinton (Elliot Anderson 56), Joe Willock (Ryan Fraser 61), Jacob Murphy (Miguel Almirón 45), Allan Saint-Maximin (Dylan Stephenson 77), Chris Wood (Sean Longstaff 39 (Jay Turner-Cooke 87)).
