Nyakuhwa’s late winner gives Newport the edge against Colchester
Archive article. Published on Mon 12 Oct, 02:07. Conditions may have changed since this reporting.
Tanatswa Nyakuhwa scored the only goal as Newport County beat Colchester United 1–0 at Rodney Parade on Saturday 10 October. County had 36% possession to Colchester’s 64%, according to API-Football. The visitors edged the shot count 12–11, with both teams putting four efforts on target. Newport’s expected-goals total was 1.64 against 0.73, a measure of chance quality rather than a different score.
Full-time figures
- Possession
- Newport 36% · Colchester 64%
- Shots
- Newport 11 · Colchester 12
- Shots on target
- 4 each
- Expected goals
- Newport 1.64 · Colchester 0.73
A substitute makes the difference
The match remained goalless at half-time. Newport’s club report describes Nyakuhwa meeting Matty Jacob’s ball and finishing low after a deflection. API-Football records the goal in the 79th minute. Jordan Wright then made a late near-post save as County protected the lead.
A boyhood fan’s winning moment
In his club interview, Nyakuhwa said scoring a winner for the team he had supported as a child was a special experience. He credited the group’s growing confidence and the impact substitutes could make. The result was narrow, but County generated the higher expected-goals figure despite having substantially less of the ball. It is a useful distinction between controlling possession and creating scoring opportunities in this match. It does not establish a season-long trend.
Background and supporting figures
Where this sits
Newport had 36% possession against Colchester’s 64%, while expected goals were 1.64 against 0.73.
Colchester had one more shot, 12–11, but shots on target were level at four each.