Heartbreak For Newcastle United As Thrilling European Adventure Over
Hurt But Proud
On a rollercoaster night of high emotions, Newcastle United's European adventure after 20 years ended in a disappointing defeat to AC Milan as they lost 2 - 1 at St. James Park.
Heartbreak. Devastation. Anguish.
The Toon Army lived it all it in a crazy 90 mins of football where ecstacy and euphoria gradually dissolved into torture as they watched their players run out of steam against a reinvigorated Milan team who smelled blood.
Newcastle led through a wonderful goal by Joelinton at halftime but a close-range strike by Christian Pulisic and a clinical finish by Chukwueze off the bench condemned Newcastle to defeat. Milan hit the post twice through Rafael Leão and Fikayo Tomori, and Mike Maignan made an incredible save late in the second half to tip Guimarães' curling shot to the bar.
At full-time, Newcastle's Champions League dreams were over with their chances of playing in the Europa League after Christmas over as well as they became the second English team this season to finish bottom of their group.
An Electric First Half Performance
Newcastle needed to beat Milan and hope that Dortmund's game against PSG will end in a draw or defeat for PSG before they could qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds.
Eddie Howe's team came out guns blazing in the first half, swarming Milan and sucking the life out of them as they pushed, probed, and pressed.
St. James Park responded in a roar for every tackle, throw in, and duel Newcastle won. Spurred on by the electric crowd, Newcastle had two good chances in the first five minutes as Tomori flapped his clearance while Gordon's shot whipped past the top corner. The best chance of the game came in the 20th minute as a wonderful splitting pass from Guimarães found Trippier who squared the ball to Joelinton. Joelinton played a dangerous low cross into the box for Almiron to tap in but Tomori just stepped in front of him with a superb block!
Newcastle were not to be denied later in the 33rd minute as academy youngster Lewis Miley - who became the youngest English player to assist a Champions League goal - touched the ball down for Joelinton. The ball bounced in front of him just high enough as he rifled a powerful half-volley into the top corner.
St. James Park erupted as Joelinton ran across the pitch and bear-hugged his manager Eddie Howe. In that moment, Newcastle were above PSG and if they held on, they'd qualify for the Champions League knockout stages at the first time of asking in 20 years.
A Rollercoaster Five Minutes
The Champions League has always been a cruel competition. Notwithstanding how brilliant a team might be, it takes one moment for fortunes to change - just ask Manchester City about Real Madrid in May 2022.
With 31 mins to go in the second half, Joelinton's volley had steered Newcastle into the last 16 of the Champions League. News from the Signa Iduna Park had filtered through that Karim Adeyemi had scored against PSG - a goal for Dortmund and a goal for Newcastle.
The Geordies at St. James Park screamed in delight signalling to the players that their fortunes had gotten better. But in a tumultuous five minutes, PSG equalized, Newcastle conceded a goal, and at full-time, they were out of Europe altogether.
Newcastle failed to clear their lines properly in the 59th minute after a really poor Milan corner and the ball found its way to Rafael Leão completely unmarked. He slid the ball for Loftus-Cheek who scuffed his shot and it fell to Giroud as the veteran striker cushioned the ball to Pulisic who blasted it through Dubravka.
With that goal, Milan quickly made substitutions as Eddie Howe could only look towards a bench with two goalkeepers and players returning from injury. The atmosphere became deflated as the Geordies had almost nothing to cheer about with Milan threatening to smash their dream.
Naïve Newcastle Gamble Ends In Milan Glory
Callum Wilson had already promised fans beforehand that "we will leave blood, sweat and tears out there," and they did as Newcastle failed to heed caution in search of a second goal, and pushed everyone high up the pitch.
Newcastle recovered from their stumble after Milan's equalizer and fought their way back to domination in the game as Trippier and Wilson went off for Dan Burn and Alexander Isak. Bruno Guimarães came close to putting Newcastle ahead in the 69th minute, curling a powerful shot with a slick towards goal. Mike Maignan was unsighted but somehow tipped the shot off the bar and kept Milan level.
Big cheers were heard from the crowd in the 77th minute after Mbappe's goal against Dortmund was disallowed by VAR - if Newcastle could knick another goal, they'll condemn PSG to the Europa League with Milan out of Europe.
But instead of a goal, the first warning sign came for Newcastle two minutes later as Livramento gave the ball away with a heavy touch. Leão pounced on it, drove towards the Newcastle goal 1v1 with Dubravka, sent him the wrong way with a drop of his shoulder, but slammed his shot at the near post!
The stadium roared in disbelief!
Milan cracked on as Newcastle looked haggard and running on fumes. A heavy touch here, a poor pass there, Newcastle truly looked like a side that needed a rest.
But they kept pushing!
Fabian Schär ran at the Milan defenders in the 84th minute and played a one-two with Isak but the ball was quickly caught out and fed to the Milan midfielders in the middle of the pitch. Newcastle had pushed up the pitch, failed to stop the counterattack, and were retreating helplessly as four Milan players ran at the three Newcastle players left behind.
Okafor and Pobega worked the ball out wide to Chukwueze who had been on the pitch for just a minute. Chukwueze took it first time and fired a wonderful shot past Dubravka and into the Newcastle net.
2 - 1 Milan!
With the foreboding feeling that their European dreams were all but over, tears streamed from the face of fans after Milan's goal but it could have been more heartbreaking at 90+4 mins when Newcastle got countered again with Jovic cutting inside and laying the ball off for Tomori. His shot skimmed the inside of the far right post!
Pride In The Face Of Defeat?
At the full-time whistle, the result at the Signa Iduna mattered not because Newcastle United had lost their third Champions League game and were heading out of Europe's famous tournament. Miguel Almiron was close to tears, Joelinton stood rooted to his spot staring in dismay, Fabian Schär fell to his haunches devastated, and not even Sean Longstaff who came on in the second half could not stop the beads of sweat gathering on his face.
Their European race had been run, the thrilling adventure was over, the Geordies at the Gallowgate End could not help but be overwhelmed with utter devastation and anguish. The dream was finally over.
But Newcastle should take pride from their performance as they had given it a proper go. It was heartbreaking to see the team that had given viewers the best matches of the Champions League season so far crash out in such a manner.
2023/2024's Champions League season will surely miss the Geordies, their bare-bodied Toon Army in the cold of winter, and the electrifying St. James Park. It might have taken 20 years for this sleeping giant to wake but Newcastle proved themselves in Europe, deserve to be proud, and will surely be back someday.
Read below what Newcastle and Manchester United's early Champions League exits mean for English clubs. Which leagues are in pole position to get the fifth Champions League spots next season?
