NEWCASTLE suffered their first home defeat of the season in a thrilling Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.
There were early warning signs when Nick Pope was forced to pull off an incredible double save.
But Eddie Howe’s men fashioned some good chances of their own which included hitting the crossbar several times.
However, Nmecha’s well-worked strike turned out to be the difference maker.
- RESULT: Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
- Live stream: Discovery+
- TV channel: TNT Sports 2
- Newcastle XI: Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Guiamares, Longstaff, Joelinton; Almiron, Gordon, Isak
- Dortmund XI: Kobel; Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Can, Sabitzer; Reus, Fullkrug, Malen
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That’s all from St James Park
Newcastle’s return to the Champions League has finally hit a stumbling block…
…but the Toon will not be able to feel down on their luck for long.
And that’s because in just 13 days time they go to Germany for a rematch with tonight’s victors, and Group F could not be poised finer.
You will not want to miss it, and you won’t with us here at SunSport.
Until then, thanks for joining us and goodnight.
Terzic praises players’ passion
A delighted Edin Terzic revealed that why it wasn’t quite the perfect performance, it was the perfect result.
The impressive Dortmund coach insisted that his team’s skill and tactical expertise got them into a first half lead before grit and determination carried them through to victory after the break.
With the first half, we deserved the win. With the second half, we protected the win, so we are really happy. In the second half, it was all about them, and we had to defend a lot, but we did it with a lot of passion, a little luck, and a great goalie.
Edin Terzic
All change in Group F
What a difference a few hours can make.
Newcastle were riding high at the top of Group F before kick-off this evening, but defeat to Borussia Dortmund has seen them slip to third place.
Paris Saint-Germain – who the Toon thumped just three weeks ago – move up to first after AC Milan, while Dortmund themselves leapfrog Newcastle on the head-to-head ruling.
- Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
- PSG 3-0 AC Milan
Credit: uefa.com
Nmecha on the mark
The only goal at St James’ Park this evening was scored by 23-year-old Fekix Nmecha.
The former Manchester City midfielder’s strike was his first ever goal in the Champions League goal in just his sixth appearance in the competition – the previous five all coming as substitute.
Howe rues doubly-disappointing evening
Eddie Howe has said that the injuries suffered by Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy were tough to take on a disappointing evening at St James’ Park.
The Newcastle boss saw his Swedish striker succumb to an early groin problem before substitute Murphy fell heavily on his arm just three minutes after his introduction in the second period.
Howe also felt his side’s bad luck continued late on when the ball wouldn’t fall kindly for them in the Dortmund penalty area.
It was a tough game for us. I thought in the first we were off where we needed to be. I thought tactically they were good. In the second half we were better, but the ball wouldn’t go in for us. [Isak’s injury] was a blow for us, as was Jacob [Murphy] coming off as well with what looks a serious injury. It’s another difficult thing to take from tonight, we’ve got a small squad as it. With all the games we’ve got to come, that’s probably the most disappointing thing of the night.
Eddie Howe
Match stats from St James’ Park
Newcastle have suffered a first home defeat in a major European match for the first time since March 2003 when they lost to Barcelona – they had gone 24 unbeaten in between these defeats (W19 D5).
Full time – Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
The whistle goes, and the players, management and supporters of Borussia Dortmund celebrate a well-earned three points in the Champions League.
The only goal – Dortmund’s first in the competition – was scored on the stroke of half-time by former Manchester City graduate Felix Nmecha.
The Bundesliga side was an excellent attacking three in the first half, and a resilient defensive unit in the second – albeit with a little help from their crossbar.
Newcastle, meanwhile, rarely got going, failed to recreate the intensity of their PSG success, and saw two players in Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy succumb to injury.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
90+4. It’s off the crossbar again!!
Newcastle win a corner and send everyone up including goalkeeper Nick Pope, although none of the home players are able to meet Trippier’s cross.
However, the ball is kept alive and eventually finds its way through to Gordon inside the area, whose resulting shot loops up off a defender, over Kobel, and on to the frame of the goal.
Still spinning away from the goalline, Dortmund manage to smuggle it behind for one final corner, which leads to Almiron smashing over from 25 yards.
That will be that.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
90+3. A wild miskick from Bensebaini momentarily offers excitement with Wilson on the prowl, but Kobel is quickly off his line to claim the ball.
Adding injury to insult, the left-back appears to have pulled his hamstring in making the mistake.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
90+1. Trippier’s free-kick is swung viciously towards the far post…
…where goalkeeper Kobel claws it away to safety.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
90. Guimaraes finds himself on the ball midway inside the Dortmund half, but with ten opponents ahead of him has nowhere to go.
Eventually, he feeds Gordon on the left, who is crudely upended by Hummels.
It’s a free-kick to Newcastle in a dangerous position, and there will be four minutes of stoppage time.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
88. You get the feeling that might have been Newcastle’s chance.
Not for the first time this evening, it’s the travelling Dortmund fans – up in the St James’ heavens – that can be heard making all the noise.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
86. Wilson hits the crossbar!
Targett finally gets a delivery spot on from a free-kick out on the left, and the Newcastle striker climbs to meet in.
Twisting and turning in the air, Wilson doesn’t actually get a clean contact on the cross, using a combination of head and shoulder to loop an effort on to the woodwork.
Perhaps a crisp connection would have found the back of the net.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
85. Newcastle survive the set-piece, and then break downfield to win one of their own through the industrious Gordon.
It causes some momentary panic inside the penalty area, eventually falling for Lascelles to strike with a shot blocked at close quarters.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
83. Wilson is wiped out by Schlotterbeck 30 yards from goal, only for referee Artur Dias to inexplicably wave play on.
With the home crowd voicing their disapproval, Dortmund counter and win a corner.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund – Guimaraes yellow card
81. Bruno Guimaraes goes into the book for a foul on Sabitzer.
It’s a first Newcastle yellow card tonight, but more of a concern is the valuable seconds it eats up.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
80. Ten to go and Newcastle are camped in the Dortmund half.
On the touchline, Eddie Howe urges his players on for a last push.
Dortmund, however, are defending very well.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund – Dortmund triple change
78. Edin Terzic throws on three sets of fresh legs for the final 12 minutes or so.
Former West Ham man Sebastian Haller is on for Niclas Fullkrug, Niklas Sule replaces the lively Donyell Malen, and Giovanni Reyna – son of Claudio – takes over from goalscorer Felix Nmecha.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
76. Newcastle are dominating possession now, but what can they do with it?
At the moment, they are struggling to find ways to unlock the Borussia Dortmund defence.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
74. A first chance for Adeyemi to run at the Newcastle defence, but even he can’t keep the wayward pass forward in play.
Darren Fletcher points out that the German forward was recently clocked at running at 21 miles-per-hour: “That’s quick enough to get you a speeding ticket in the roads around schools in the UK.”
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
72. Inside the final 20 minutes, and Newcastle will be hoping that the enforced change will not derail them as it did in the first half.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund – Newcastle double substitution
70. Jacob Murphy was on the pitch for just three-and-a-half minutes, but has succumbed to injury.
He goes off, his arm in a makeshift sling, and is replaced by Joe Willock, he himself making a first appearance this season after injury.
Also on is Matt Targett at left-back for Dan Burn.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
69. Now substitute Jacob Murphy has gone down in discomfort.
The substitute landed heavily on his shoulder following a challenge from Ozcan and it looks a real sore one.
Ouch.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
68. Hummels shows he’s not just a class act in defence by tricking his way beyond Burn inside the box and fizzing a ball across the face of the Newcastle goal.
It only needs a touch, but its Tonali with the interception, clearing superbly from underneath his own crossbar.
In any case, the flag was up for offside.
Newcastle 0-1 Dortmund
66. Tonali is straight at it, winning the ball back from two Dortmund midfielders.
He slips a pass through to Wilson, but he is dealt with by the equally-impressive Hummels.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
