Tomáš Souček’s close-range tap-in sent the Magpies behind inside eight minutes at the London Stadium before Alexander Isak’s brace in the space of five minutes after the restart turned the contest in United’s favour.
The Swedish forward missed a glorious opportunity to net his first Magpies hat-trick, clipping the post after rounding Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola before the hosts levelled in the 89th minute through Kudus’ rifled finish from the edge of the box.
Eddie Howe made one change from the starting XI which claimed an excellent 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night as Elliot Anderson was handed a fourth successive Premier League start in place of Anthony Gordon, serving a one-match suspension after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Burnley last weekend.
Despite United controlling the majority of possession in the opening stages, the Magpies’ hopes of a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet were distinguished as Souček fired the Hammers ahead. The hosts’ first attack of the game saw Lucas Paqueta and Emerson combine, with the latter’s touch rounding Magpies goalkeeper Nick Pope before the Brazilian’s pass from the byline was directed into Souček’s path, who placed the ball into an empty net.
Bruno Guimarães, who signed a new five-year deal with the Magpies on Saturday, was fortunate to remain on the pitch as the central midfielder, booked for bringing fellow Brazilian Emerson down at full charge minutes prior, clipped James Ward-Prowse on the half-way line but referee Peter Bankes elected against brandishing Guimarães a second yellow card.
Newcastle’s first goalscoring opportunity of the contest came shortly before the half-hour mark through Miguel Almirón. The Paraguayan forward, targeting a third goal in as many Premier League matches, attempted to curl an effort into the far left-hand corner but the South American’s shot was directed wide of the target.
Dan Burn went close to netting his third goal in his last four games across all competitions as the Blyth-born defender connected with Kieran Trippier’s inviting free-kick but glanced his header narrowly wide of the target.
The Magpies were fortunate not to fall further behind after the restart as Ward-Prowse’s dangerous corner was met by Edson Álvarez but the Mexican midfielder’s diving header flashed past the far post.
In the 57th minute, Newcastle drew level through Isak’s fantastic finish. After Trippier’s delivery from distance was nodded back across goal, the 24-year-old striker controlled the ball excellently before producing a composed finish inside the penalty area, with the goal standing despite a VAR review.
There were no complaints five minutes later as Isak doubled his and United’s tally. After Guimarães played a wonderful pass into Trippier’s path, the England international fired a stunning first-time ball across the face of goal with Isak on hand to tap the ball into an empty net, the Swede's seventh goal of the 2023/24 campaign across all competitions.
Isak went agonisingly close to scoring his first hat-trick in Newcastle colours and, arguably, securing maximum points after racing onto Burn’s impressive through pass and rounding Areola but his resulting shot struck the woodwork before bouncing off Nayef Aguerd and going behind for a corner kick.
The Magpies were made to pay for their misfortune in front of goal as Kudus levelled the scoring in the 89th minute. After Coufal completed a run down the right flank, the Czech full-back picked out Kudus before the Ghanian’s drilled finish from the edge of the penalty area flew beyond Pope.
The draw leaves United situated in eighth place of the English top-flight on 13 points as well as extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches ahead of the upcoming international break.
