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.
More follows.
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
1Dúbravka2TrippierSubstituted forBurnat 63′minutes6Lascelles5SchärBooked at 90mins21Livramento67MileySubstituted forS Longstaffat 71′minutes39Bruno Guimarães7JoelintonBooked at 72mins24Almirón9Wilson10GordonSubstituted forIsakat 62′minutes
Substitutes
3Dummett14Isak18Karius20Hall33Burn36S Longstaff82Harrison
AC Milan
Formation 4-2-3-1
16MaignanBooked at 45mins2Calabria23Tomori19Hernández42FlorenziBooked at 90mins14Reijnders80MusahBooked at 80minsSubstituted forChukwuezeat 83′minutes11PulisicSubstituted forJovicat 73′minutesBooked at 78mins8Loftus-CheekSubstituted forPobegaat 73′minutes10Rafael LeãoBooked at 40minsSubstituted forBartesaghiat 88′minutes9GiroudSubstituted forOkaforat 83′minutes
Substitutes
7Adli15Jovic17Okafor21Chukwueze32Pobega33Krunic69Nava70Traorè83Mirante84Nsiala-Makengo95Bartesaghi
Live Text
Match ends, Newcastle United 1, AC Milan 2.
Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 1, AC Milan 2.
Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Luka Jovic following a fast break.
Attempt missed. Théo Hernández (AC Milan) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing misses to the right. Assisted by Samuel Chukwueze with a headed pass following a fast break.
Attempt blocked. Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United) header from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sean Longstaff with a cross.
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Fikayo Tomori.
Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan).
Substitution, AC Milan. Davide Bartesaghi replaces Rafael Leão.
Foul by Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United).
Luka Jovic (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Luka Jovic (AC Milan) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rafael Leão.
Goal! Newcastle United 1, AC Milan 2. Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Noah Okafor following a fast break.
Substitution, AC Milan. Noah Okafor replaces Olivier Giroud.
Substitution, AC Milan. Samuel Chukwueze replaces Yunus Musah.
Attempt blocked. Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alessandro Florenzi.
Corner, AC Milan. Conceded by Jamaal Lascelles.
Attempt blocked. Luka Jovic (AC Milan) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alessandro Florenzi with a cross.
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Newcastle United
Squad number1Player nameDúbravka
Squad number2Player nameTrippier
Squad number6Player nameLascelles
Squad number5Player nameSchär
Squad number21Player nameLivramento
Squad number67Player nameMiley
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Squad number9Player nameWilson
Squad number10Player nameGordon
Squad number14Player nameIsak
Squad number33Player nameBurn
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
AC Milan
Squad number16Player nameMaignan
Squad number2Player nameCalabria
Squad number23Player nameTomori
Squad number19Player nameHernández
Squad number42Player nameFlorenzi
Squad number14Player nameReijnders
Squad number80Player nameMusah
Squad number11Player namePulisic
Squad number8Player nameLoftus-Cheek
Squad number10Player nameRafael Leão
Squad number9Player nameGiroud
Squad number15Player nameJovic
Squad number17Player nameOkafor
Squad number21Player nameChukwueze
Squad number32Player namePobega
Squad number95Player nameBartesaghi