Newcastle United 1-2 AC Milan
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE CAME off the bench to end Newcastle’s Champions League adventure as AC Milan fought back from a goal down to win at St James’ Park.
On a night when both sides needed to win to stand any chance of progressing, goals from Christian Pulisic and Chukwueze handed the Serie A side a 2-1 victory which was not enough to prolong their involvement in the competition following a 1-1 draw between Borussia Dortmund and Paris St Germain in Germany.
Seven-time winners Milan at least have the consolation of a Europa League berth while Eddie Howe’s men, who took a 33rd-minute lead through Joelinton’s piledriver in front of a crowd of 52,037, slipped out of Europe altogether after finishing bottom of Group F in their first campaign since 2002-03.
Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka shook off a bout of illness which had threatened his participation to retain his place in the team with striker Callum Wilson making his first start since damaging a hamstring during the 2-0 defeat at Dortmund on November 7.
Such have been head coach Howe’s selection problems that only four of the men who started the reverse fixture in September – Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon – did so on Tyneside.
St James’ reverberated as an expectant home crowd played its part, and Gordon’s early challenge on full-back Davide Calabria was cheered almost as appreciatively as a goal on a night when the stakes could hardly have been higher.
Trippier curled a sixth-minute free-kick over Mike Maignan’s crossbar after Pulisic had bundled Gordon to the ground as the Magpies maintained their early intensity, although the visitors with experienced striker Olivier Giroud providing a focal point, gradually eased their way into the game.
For all their dominance, Newcastle were struggling to create meaningful chances and Schar’s speculative 18th-minute strike from distance, which sailed high over Maignan’s crossbar, had a touch of impatience about it.
However, Fikayo Tomori had to make a superbly-timed intervention on his own line to prevent Miguel Almiron from converting Joelinton’s cross two minutes later.
Rafael Leao whipped a shot wide of Dubravka’s left post after Yunus Musah had surged deep into enemy territory to feed him as the visitors responded, but Maignan had to pluck Almiron’s goal-bound header from under his crossbar after he had met Joelinton’s inviting cross.
But it was the Brazilian who broke the deadlock when he ran on to Lewis Miley’s lay-off and smashed a right-footed shot past the helpless Maignan and into the top corner before sprinting to the sideline to celebrate with Howe and assistant Jason Tindall as the stadium erupted.
The game descended into a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to retain possession as the half-time whistle approached, and it was the Magpies who ultimately headed for the dressing rooms much the happier.
Wilson picked out the keeper with two attempts and Gordon fired over from another with Newcastle looking to kill the game off as news that Dortmund had scored rippled around the stadium.
PSG’s equaliser minutes later did little to quell the atmosphere, but spirits dropped with 59 minutes gone when the home defence failed to deal with Leao’s left-wing cross and Giroud teed up former Chelsea midfielder Pulisic to level from close range.
A much-improved Milan were causing significantly more problems with Leao in particular a persistent threat, but substitute Alexander Isak sent a dipping shot over with 23 minutes remaining and Maignan had to make a superb save to tip Guimaraes’ drive on to his crossbar two minutes later.
The woodwork came to Newcastle’s rescue 11 minutes from time when Leao’s shot came back off the post after Tino Livramento’s error had sparked a pacy counter-attack, but there was no escape five minutes later when Noah Okafor and Luka Jovic combined to set up fellow substitute Chukwueze to win it.
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Paris-Saint Germain
Paris Saint-Germain scraped into the Champions League last 16 after a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund.
In danger of a first group-stage exit since the Qatari takeover in 2011, PSG came from a goal down to earn the point that sent them through as Group F runners-up.
Karim Adeyemi gave Dortmund the lead early in the second half, but teenager Warren Zaire-Emery equalised as PSG reached the knockout phase for the 12th season in a row.
Despite the result, PSG’s timid showing against an inconsistent Dortmund means Luis Enrique’s side have plenty to do if they wish to go much further on the European stage.
By finishing first Dortmund will avoid several of the competition favourites including holders Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the last 16.
The sides miraculously failed to score in a blistering first half, with both missing several massive chances.
Dortmund knew they would top the group by avoiding defeat, but Edin Terzic’s men roamed forward, creating several chances but also leaving space for PSG’s speedy attackers.
Marco Reus and Marius Wolf went close early for the hosts until PSG roared to life, pinning Dortmund on the ropes but somehow failing to land a telling blow.
Lee Kang-in missed with the goal begging after just a quarter of an hour and Mbappe went even closer just a minute later.
The 2018 World Cup winner rounded Gregor Kobel and shot goalwards before defender Niklas Suele flew through the air, intercepting the ball centimetres from the line.
Dortmund then missed some golden chances of their own, both Reus and Adeyemi blasting wide.
With news filtering through of Newcastle’s half-time lead, PSG ramped up their pursuit of the opening goal with Mats Hummels putting his body on the line to deny Mbappe early.
The home side would however strike first, Niclas Fuellkrug laying on a splendid pass for Adeyemi to roll in the opener.
With PSG staring at elimination Mbappe put the team on his back, dribbling down the left flank and shedding his marker, his squared ball deflected out to Zaire-Emery, who advanced towards goal before blasting home.
Mbappe looked to have booked PSG’s ticket late, scoring with just over 10 minutes remaining, but the strike was chalked off by VAR for offside.
- With reporting from AFP
