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Newcastle out of Champions League after Milan loss

Samuel Chukwueze makes it 2-1 to Milan
Samuel Chukwueze’s winner ensured AC Milan finish third in Group F and drop into the Europa League

Newcastle United’s Champions League campaign ended in heartbreak on a night of emotion and drama on Tyneside, as AC Milan came from behind to win at St James’ Park and send them out of Europe.

The Toon Army were dreaming of a place in the knockout stages when they took the lead through Joelinton’s 33rd-minute thunderbolt while Borussia Dortmund led against Paris St-Germain in Germany.

It was an outcome that would have sent Newcastle through on head-to-head results against PSG – but the mood shifted in a matter of minutes just before the hour.

Teenager Warren Zaire-Emery equalised for the French champions in Germany, then former Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic levelled for Milan.

As both sides pushed for a winner in an open game, Milan keeper Mike Maignan did brilliantly to turn Bruno Guimaraes’ shot on to the woodwork before Rafael Leao raced clear for the Italians, only to shoot against the foot of the post.

Newcastle’s fate was sealed six minutes from time when Milan struck ruthlessly on the counter-attack, substitute Samuel Chukwueze curling a superb finish high past Martin Dubravka.

It left manager Eddie Howe and his players devastated following a return to the Champions League which was fiercely fought, but has ended with them bottom of Group F and without even the consolation of a place in the Europa League.

Newcastle regret what might have been

When the half-time whistle blew to a huge Tyneside roar, Newcastle were on course for the last 16 of the Champions League – but when a dramatic second half came to its conclusion they were out of Europe completely.

It summed up the swings in fortune on a night when attention was divided between what was unfolding at St James’ Park and events in Germany, followed closely to see what impact they had on Newcastle’s fate.

Newcastle’s destiny was out of their own hands after the controversial stoppage-time penalty which gave PSG a draw in Paris two weeks ago, but they were fulfilling their part of the bargain by dominating a lacklustre AC Milan side overawed by the intensity of their opponents and the atmosphere.

The problem was that Newcastle were always living on the edge and it so proved with those goals, first for PSG in Germany then Milan on Tyneside, which was the start of the downfall.

Eddie Howe celebrates Joelinton after his opening goal
Eddie Howe congratulates Joelinton after his first Champions League goal for Newcastle gave them the lead

Newcastle did not create enough for all their possession, and were punished as they employed a high-risk strategy in the hope of creating the victory and the potential to go through.

It was not to be, and a campaign that brought the glory of the 4-1 thrashing of PSG in Newcastle’s first Champions League game on home soil in two decades, ultimately came up short with key moments being a crucial home defeat to Dortmund, that fateful penalty in Paris and this loss to Milan.

They have acquitted themselves well despite finishing bottom of their group, but this has been a brutal learning experience.

Howe must lift broken Newcastle

There was the sound of silence and a sense of disbelief for just a few seconds as the grim realisation of Newcastle’s elimination from European football sank in.

Newcastle had high hopes that the cards could fall in a way which would allow them to enjoy the prestige and financial firepower of the Champions League knockout phase. Instead they were beaten and looked broken after a chastening week.

They have been overpowered by Everton and Tottenham before losing to Milan in what was, at first, a smash-and-grab but ended with the Italians squandering chances, hitting the post twice as Newcastle chased an unlikely outcome.

Newcastle also looked, as they had done in those Premier League matches, exhausted at the final whistle.

Howe now has the task of lifting a leg-weary squad short on numbers because of injuries, into a position where they can sample this challenge next season – and show they have learned from it – by finishing in the Premier League’s top four.

There was no consolation in the manner of Newcastle’s demise. Now Howe faces a huge challenge to lift their spirits.

Line-ups

Newcastle

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Dúbravka
  • 2TrippierSubstituted forBurnat 63′minutes
  • 6Lascelles
  • 5SchärBooked at 90mins
  • 21Livramento
  • 67MileySubstituted forS Longstaffat 71′minutes
  • 39Bruno Guimarães
  • 7JoelintonBooked at 72mins
  • 24Almirón
  • 9Wilson
  • 10GordonSubstituted forIsakat 62′minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Dummett
  • 14Isak
  • 18Karius
  • 20Hall
  • 33Burn
  • 36S Longstaff
  • 82Harrison

AC Milan

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 16MaignanBooked at 45mins
  • 2Calabria
  • 23Tomori
  • 19Hernández
  • 42FlorenziBooked at 90mins
  • 14Reijnders
  • 80MusahBooked at 80minsSubstituted forChukwuezeat 83′minutes
  • 11PulisicSubstituted forJovicat 73′minutesBooked at 78mins
  • 8Loftus-CheekSubstituted forPobegaat 73′minutes
  • 10Rafael LeãoBooked at 40minsSubstituted forBartesaghiat 88′minutes
  • 9GiroudSubstituted forOkaforat 83′minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Adli
  • 15Jovic
  • 17Okafor
  • 21Chukwueze
  • 32Pobega
  • 33Krunic
  • 69Nava
  • 70Traorè
  • 83Mirante
  • 84Nsiala-Makengo
  • 95Bartesaghi

Referee:
Danny Makkelie

Attendance:
52,037

Live Text

Player of the match

ChukwuezeSamuel Chukwueze

Newcastle United

  1. Squad number7Player nameJoelinton

  2. Squad number67Player nameMiley

  3. Squad number21Player nameLivramento

  4. Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães

  5. Squad number10Player nameGordon

  6. Squad number2Player nameTrippier

  7. Squad number24Player nameAlmirón

  8. Squad number5Player nameSchär

  9. Squad number6Player nameLascelles

  10. Squad number9Player nameWilson

  11. Squad number14Player nameIsak

  12. Squad number1Player nameDúbravka

  13. Squad number33Player nameBurn

  14. Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff

AC Milan

  1. Squad number21Player nameChukwueze

  2. Squad number23Player nameTomori

  3. Squad number17Player nameOkafor

  4. Squad number11Player namePulisic

  5. Squad number10Player nameRafael Leão

  6. Squad number15Player nameJovic

  7. Squad number32Player namePobega

  8. Squad number9Player nameGiroud

  9. Squad number95Player nameBartesaghi

  10. Squad number16Player nameMaignan

  11. Squad number19Player nameHernández

  12. Squad number8Player nameLoftus-Cheek

  13. Squad number42Player nameFlorenzi

  14. Squad number80Player nameMusah

  15. Squad number2Player nameCalabria

  16. Squad number14Player nameReijnders

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