Newcastle United 1-2 AC Milan: Magpies crash out of Champions League in £9million blow

Newcastle United kissed goodbye to both their Champions League[1] hopes and European campaign in one costly night at St James’ Park. After going 1-0 up through Joelinton in the first half a second half collapse saw Milan leapfrog them and snatch a Europa League place. Perhaps United’s Achilles heel tonight was pushing for the win which would have taken them into the last 16 rather than shutting shop for a draw and at least staying in Continental competition.

Eddie Howe, in a game of high stakes, gambled and lost as Newcastle were eliminated at the group stages. Failing to get to the knockout stages has cost Newcastle GBP9million in prize money alone.

Newcastle tested Milan as early as the fourth minute after Anthony Gordon drove into the centre before winning a free-kick around 25 yards from goal. Kieran Trippier[5] stepped up and while he got it over the wall it was high and wide at the Leazes End.

The Italian visitors then made their first real attack when Olivier Giroud flicked the ball forward for Rafael Leao who picked out Christian Pulisic before his effort missed the target by some margin with 13 minutes gone. In the 18th minute, there was a minute of applause for teenager Sonny Farrier[6] who tragically lost his life earlier this month in a road traffic accident. The Magpies should have went a goal up in the 19th minute when Joelinton prodded the ball into the path of Miguel Almiron[7] but he was beaten to the ball by Fikayo Tomori on the line.

Almiron tried to make amends when Joelinton crossed from the right and his header was directed at goal but Mike Maignan held on. But Maignan had no chance with 33 minutes played when Gordon cut Milan open and sprayed the ball to Lewis Miley. The teenage star then cut the ball perfectly into Joelinton’s path before he took a touch and drove it past the Milan stopper to put Newcastle in control.

And that was enough to give Newcastle a slender advantage at the break with many fans eager for news from Germany where it had ended 0-0 in the first half between Dortmund and PSG. There were just 40 seconds on the clock in the second half when Miley won the ball and teed up Callum Wilson but his shot was gathered by the keeper. In the 51st minute news spread around St James’ Park that Dortmund had taken the lead in Germany thanks to Karim Adeyemi.

As news filtered back to Tyneside that PSG were level, Gordon forced a corner at the Gallowgate End. But Newcastle could not make the most of it and Almiron’s effort rolled all the way out for a throw in. Newcastle were then dramatically pegged back after conceding a sloppy goal as defenders stood still in the six-yard box.

After Leao’s run and cross Olivier Giroud squared the ball to Christian Pulisic who converted from close range to make it 1-1. Howe then turned to his bench and introduced Alexander Isak[8] for Gordon and replaced Trippier with Burn, with Tino Livramento switching to right-back and the Blyth[9] lad taking up his old slot at left-back. Isak created a chance after latching on to Joelinton’s pass on the left but then scooped it high over the top.

United were a lick of paint away from going back ahead on 69 minutes when Maignan got a hand on Bruno’s shot and the ball clipped the crossbar as the Milan stopper made a fine save. Sean Longstaff then came on for Miley with 20 minutes to go. Milan also made changes as Tommaso Pobega came on for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Luka Jovic replaced Pulisic.

On an unbearable night of tension at times, news of PSG taking the lead through Kylian Mbappe spread around the Press box, shortly followed by news that it had been chalked off for offside. Yet Newcastle were nearly dealt a hammer blow when Leao skipped clean through but struck the base of the post with 12 minutes left. At the other end, Yunus Musah clawed back Isak to hand Newcastle a long range free-kick with 10 minutes remaining but it was wasted by United.

With seven minutes left, Milan introduced Samuel Chukweze and Noah Okafor for Giroud and Musash. But after Newcastle had over-committed bodies, Milan hit them on the break at the Leazes End. Incredibly, with a four vs two situation Okafor slipped in Chukweze who curled it past Dubravka to put Milan in front with six minutes to go.

In the last throes of four minutes of added time Newcastle sent Dubravka up to try to save the day but Milan won the ball. It fell for Theo Fernandez who tried to score from his own half but could not apply the finish. Tomori got free down the right in stoppage time but the ball cannoned off the post.

Moments later the final whistle sounded with Bruno left slumped on the floor and Almiron close to tears. The European run is over and there have been many lessons but ultimately Newcastle squandered their chances to go through on a night in which a win would have been enough to get to the last 16. Newcastle have had some good moments in Europe this season but one win in six Group F matches ensured they finished rock bottom.

Attendance: 52,037

Referee: Danny Makellie (Holland)

References

1. ^ Champions League (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^ : (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
3. ^ Eddie Howe responds to talk of “done deal” for Kalvin Phillips ahead of January window (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
4. ^ Everything Eddie Howe said on Dubravka, injuries, Kalvin Phillips and Milan at press conference (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
5. ^ Kieran Trippier (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
6. ^ Sonny Farrier (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
7. ^ Miguel Almiron (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
8. ^ Alexander Isak (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
9. ^ Blyth (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)