Sunday 20 August 2017 23:47, UK
Aaron Mooy's gave second-half effort gave Huddersfield a 1-0 win over Newcastle in their first Premier League home game of the season on Super Sunday.
Mooy scored the winner on 50 minutes, superbly guiding the ball into the far corner from just inside the area after a neat one-two.
Matt Ritchie had gone close for Newcastle in the first half, but the visitors failed to create many clear-cut chances throughout at the John Smith's Stadium.
The result means Huddersfield have started the season with two wins from two in their first campaign back in the top flight for 45 years, while Newcastle are still searching for their first point this season.
In a first-half lacking in opportunities, Ritchie came closest for Newcastle, forcing Jonas Lossl into a fantastic fingertip save to his left after the midfielder's poked snapshot from 12 yards.
But Huddersfield came out fastest after the break, and were ahead five minutes into the half through Australian Mooy, who joined the club permanently in the summer from Manchester City.
After playing a one-two on the edge of the box with Elias Kachunga, Mooy curled the ball into the corner of the net past Rob Elliot with his right foot from 18 yards.
Ayoze Perez had a chance to level with 20 minutes remaining, but the Spaniard miscued from six yards after a corner had fortunately fell into his path on the volley.
Huddersfield held on despite some late pressure from the visitors, who are yet to score in the Premier League this term.
Graeme Souness: How do you stop a goal like that? Quite easily! Mikel Merino, when he comes out to confront Mooy, his sole intention is to not receive any physical contact from Mooy, or indeed not to get hit with the ball. It's a joke! You're defending 20 yards from your goal, take a blow for the cause.
You can't win games of football when you've got people making those decisions so close to your goal. It's weak, it's like something you'd see in kids' football. You've got to stand back and admire the goal, but from the other side of the coin, you've got to speak to him. Take a blow for the cause!
Rafa Benitez: "I'm obviously disappointed. We have some little problems in defence, with not too many players, and we have to manage.
"They did well for a while, and we conceded because we gave them too much time on the ball. After that we were quite positive, but it's a learning process for us."
Who else? In a match lacking in quality in the final third, the Australian's piece of class handed Huddersfield a win to remember.
The finish was sublime, after a nifty one-two on the edge of the box, opening his body up to guide it beyond Rob Elliot.
Besides his goal, Mooy was the most impressive player on the pitch for the first half, and had more passes in the opposition half (37) than any other player on the pitch.
Huddersfield face Rotherham on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup second round at the John Smith's Stadium, before hosting Southampton on Saturday in the Premier League. Newcastle host Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, again on Wednesday, and are then back at St James' Park on Saturday for the visit of West Ham.
