NEWCASTLE have been knocked out of the Champions League and Europe tonight after AC Milan ran out 2-1 winners on Tyneside.Joelinton’s thunderous strike beat a helpless Mike Maignan in goal for the game’s opener after 33 minutes before Christian Pulisic levelled things up on the hour mark.
Substitute Samuel Chukwueze finished off a stunning AC Milan counter-attack on the 84th minute to break Newcastle hearts and knock the Toon out of Europe.
Match result: Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
Newcastle team: Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Gordon
AC Milan team: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Hernandez, Florenzi; Musah, Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao
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Brazilian controls Magpies’ engine room
Despite their exit, Joelinton put in a brilliant performance.
He scored the goal on the night, a superb strike into the top corner.
Aside from that, he covered so much ground for Newcastle, looking to break up the Milan play before getting The Magpies on the front foot once again.
Magpies must learn from experience
It is easy to focus on the disappointment from tonight’s result but Newcastle must learn from the campaign.
They have faced sides who have vast experience in Champions League football, yet they were so close to doing the unthinkable.
Now the focus must be on European qualification for next season.
FT: Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
Disappointment at St James’ Park, at one stage they were heading into the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Two goals later, they are out of Europe completely.
So close, but no cigar for Eddie Howe’s side.
Credit: Getty
Credit: Getty
Credit: AP
FT: Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
The Italians really did a number on Eddie Howe’s side.
While the stats show they had two shots on target and scored two goals, they also hit the woodwork twice.
As the game opened up, as Newcastle chased a goal, Milan showed their experience on the break.
FT: Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
The referee brings the game to a close.
Newcastle are officially out of Europe.
Milan will head into the Europa League, PSG qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League.
Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
90+4. As Milan clear the ball, two players break with no keeper in the Newcastle goal.
Hernandez takes the wrong option as he shoots.
As The Magpies throw bodies forward once again, Milan break and work it to Tomori who shoots, only to hit the post.
Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
90+2. As it stands, Newcastle would be completely out of Europe.
The ball is lofted into the box but Maignan collects well.
Pioli’s side are happy to try and run the clock down.
Newcastle look to cross into the box but Tomori blocks for a corner.
Dubravka has come up for this one.
Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
90. Time is running out for Eddie Howe’s side.
Guimaraes looks to take it past the full back but runs out of pitch.
Florenzi wipes out Almiron as he turns his marker and was away.
There are four minutes of added time remaining.
Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
88. Milan are looking very dangerous on the break.
As Newcastle throw more players forward, including defenders, when the visitors win it back they look capable of scoring.
Leao lays the ball back to the penalty spot and Burn makes a great block as that seemed destined for the back of the net.
Credit: Reuters
Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan
86. Milan counter attack and have numbers over as Schar is caught out of position.
The substitutes combine before Chukwueze bends a first time shot into the top corner of the goal.
Great strike.
That may be his first touch of the ball since coming on.
Goal – Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan)
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
84. Milan make two more changes as they search for a goal.
Newcastle come forward once again.
Schar tries a one-two but the ball is cleared before he can get to it.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
82. Isak bursts through the middle but is hauled down by Musah.
It is played short to Livramento but Newcastle cannot make anything from the chance.
Milan win a free kick deep in The Magpies’ half.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
80. Rafael Leao busts through with only the keeper to beat.
He gives Dubravka the eyes but his shot thunders back off the base of the post.
What a chance that was, he really should have scored.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
78. The visitors have brought Jovic on in the hope of finding a goal.
Giroud is penalised for a foul on Lascelles.
As Newcastle steam forward, Livramento drills a cross in but Wilson has an airshot as he tries to connect with it.
Credit: Getty
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
76. Schar is penalised for a foul as he slips and takes out the Milan player.
It may not have been intentional but is a foul nevertheless.
Chance for Milan to get forward and put some pressure on the Newcastle goal.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
74. As it stands, Newcastle would go into the Europa League.
Having a far better goal difference would be the difference between these two sides in the group table.
Milan need another goal if they have any hope of staying in European competition.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
72. The draw does neither of these sides any favours.
It should be a manic final twenty minutes with both teams going for the goal that will give them the win.
Miley comes off for Longstaff for The Magpies.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
70. Isak does well in the box and lays it off to the edge of the box to Bruno Guimarares.
He takes one touch before shooting and Maignan tips his effort onto the crossbar.
So close for Newcastle.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
68. Newcastle come forward on the counter attack.
Joelinton feeds it to Isak, who cuts inside onto his right foot.
His shot loops over the crossbar, a goal kick is given, despite the player telling the official it took a deflection.
Credit: Getty
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
66. Leao is starting to cause problems for the hosts down the left.
He drops his shoulder and tries to get to the byline to cross but Livramento does well to block for a corner.
As the cross comes in, no Milan player can get to the ball.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
64. Lascelles gives the ball away to Pulisic.
Leao runs into the box and Schar lunges in with a challenge.
The defender is lucky he did not go to ground or Newcastle would have been relying on VAR to save them.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
62. That goal has silenced the home faithful.
In the space of a few minutes they have gone from cloud nine to feeling distraught.
A PSG equaliser quickly followed by a Milan leveller.
Burn comes on for Trippier, Isak comes on for Gordon.
Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan
60. As the ball was crossed in, Leao looked to volley but scuffed his effort.
It came to Giroud, who unselfishly laid it on a plate for Pulisic.
The ex-Chelsea man side-footed it past Dubravka to equalise.
Goal – Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) More
