Kenedy double helps Newcastle to 3-0 rout of Southampton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Southampton - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 10, 2018 Newcastle United's Kenedy scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

March 10 (Reuters) - NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 SOUTHAMPTON 0

Newcastle United moved clear of the Premier League's relegation zone after on-loan Brazilian winger Kenedy scored twice and Matt Ritchie added another in a 3-0 home win over struggling Southampton on Saturday.

Kenedy, who was loaned to Newcastle by champions Chelsea in January, opened the scoring in the second minute and made it 2-0 in the 29th after a superb breakaway move involving Ayoze Perez and striker Dwight Gayle.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Southampton - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 10, 2018 Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie in action with Southampton's Nathan Redmond Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Ritchie scored the third shortly before the hour with a crisp low show from 20 metres as Newcastle celebrated their first win in eight Premier League games against the Saints, who have won only one of their last 17 top-flight matches.

Having scored his first goals for the Magpies, Kenedy also became the first Newcastle player to bag a brace at St James' Park this season, with the home side missing several chances to win by an even bigger margin.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Southampton - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 10, 2018 Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez in action with Southampton's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Wesley Hoedt Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic, Editng by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United vs Southampton - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 10, 2018 Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie in action Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith