Alexander Isak put Newcastle ahead before Kylian Mbappe’s late penalty (Picture: Reuters/EPA)
Newcastle United have kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night – but it was a cruel result for Eddie Howe’s side following late penalty drama.
Alexander Isak put the Premier League side ahead in the first half before Kylian Mbappe controversially scored a 98th-minute spot-kick after Tino Livramento was deemed to have handled the ball in the area, with the incident checked by VAR.
The result has set up a mammoth tie with AC Milan at St James’ Park in the final gameweek on December 13 with the Magpies still able to progress from Group F – dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ – which also includes Borussia Dortmund, who have secured their own knockout spot with a 3-1 victory over the Italians.
For Newcastle to make the last 16, they must now beat AC Milan and hope that PSG do not defeat Dortmund in the other Group F match.
PSG enjoyed a bright start and dominated the early possession with the first chance falling to Fabian Ruiz in a dangerous area from Ousmane Dembele’s cross, but his shot was always rising as he was unable to test Nick Pope.
Pope was then forced to make a crucial save with his legs from Mbappe before Miguel Almiron nicked the ball from Achraf Hakimi at the other end and put in a cross for Isak – but he wasted a big chance from close range in Newcastle’s first attack of note.
Isak turned into a hero on 25 minutes, though, as PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma spilled the ball from Almiron’s shot from outside the box, with the striker pouncing and slotting home to spark wild scenes in the away end.
PSG desperately searched for an equaliser before half-time and Pope was again called into action to deny Dembele but despite the French champions pushing and pushing, Howe’s men held onto their lead with some impressive defending.
The Parisians had a major chance to draw level 10 minutes into the second half but Pope heroically raced off his line to stop Dembele’s shot before Mbappe wasted the rebound, allowing Newcastle to clear their lines.
Pope then pulled off an incredible save from close range to keep out Bradley Barcola and VAR checked for a possible penalty for Anthony Gordon’s challenge on Hakimi but no spot-kick was given as Newcastle continued to hold on.
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PSG kept the pressure on and continued to relentlessly attack with Dembele missing another key chance with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining, firing wide after Fabian Schar did enough to put him off.
Pope’s heroics continued as he made a save to deny Mbappe on 88 minutes and the France international striker’s rebound flashes inches wide before Barcola missed a big chance in stoppage time, slashing his right-foot shot over.
There was more late drama as VAR checked for a penalty deep into stoppage timeand it was controversially given for handball as Mbappe fired a rocket past Pope to level it up with virtually the last kick of the game.
The handball was given against Livramento from Dembele’s cross as the ball appeared to hit the Newcastle star on the chest before it struck his lower arm.
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