Newcastle United 1-2 AC Milan: Eddie Howe's side dumped out of Europe as visitors fight back to win

Joelinton scored a screamer but Newcastle United’s dream of reaching the UEFA Champions League last 16 is over after AC Milan came from behind to win 2-1 at St James’ Park.

The Magpies went into the Matchday 6 showdown needing a victory and a slip from Paris Saint-Germain to progress from ‘The Group of Death,’ but they came up short despite a strong start.

Only some inspired defending from England international Fikayo Tomori denied Miguel Almiron the opener but the Milan defence could do nothing to stop Joelinton’s 18-yard rocket on 33 minutes.

Milan improved following the interval and stunned the Toon Army on 59 minutes when former Chelsea star Christian Pulisic tapped in from close range.

It led to an end-to-end finale with both sides hitting the woodwork before substitute Samuel Chukwueze secured UEFA Europa League football for the Serie A side six minutes from time.

PSG’s draw at table-topping Borussia Dortmund means Kylian Mbappe and Co progress to the knockout stage in second spot. Milan finish third in Group F with Eddie Howe’s men bottom and out of Europe.

Next up, Newcastle host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday. AC Milan are at home to Monza in Serie A on Sunday.

At one point in the evening, The Toon were in dreamland with a comfortable 1-0 lead and news filtering through that Dortmund were ahead against PSG.

It looked like The Magpies were on course for the Last 16, but a goal in Germany followed by a Milan equaliser soured the mood inside St James’ Park in what felt like an instant and Howe’s injury-hit side eventually ran out of steam.

Milan ended as the stronger team and snatched the winner, but the frustration for the Newcastle players is that had they managed to grind out some sort of victory they would have been through given Dortmund did indeed do them a favour.

The bitter pill is that they don’t even have the consolation of Europa League football after the turn of the year, but Howe and Co can still be proud of their efforts in the toughest group of all and they will surely bounce back as the club continue to move in the right direction under his leadership.

The England defender was a colossus as the back, denying Newcastle with a series of outstanding blocks. His performance lay the foundation for the comeback as Newcastle threatened to pull away as they dominated the first half of the contest.

Newcastle: Dubravka 6, Trippier 7, Lascelles 7, Schar 7, Livramento 7, Miley 7, Guimaraes 7, Joelinton 8, Almiron 7, Wilson 6, Gordon 6. Subs: Isak 7, Burn 6, Longstaff 6.

AC Milan: Maignan 8, Calabria 7, Tomori 9, Hernandez 7, Florenzi 7, Musah 7, Reijnders 7, Loftus-Cheek 7, Pulisic 7, Giroud 7, Leao 7. Subs: Jovic 7, Pobega 6, Okafor 6, Chukwueze 6, Bartesaghi n/a.

20’ NEWCASTLE CHANCE! Tomori somehow denies Almiron a tap-in on the line with a sensational block-tackle after Trippier and Joelinton had shredded the Milan defence on the right and put it on a plate for the winger.

33’ GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 AC Milan (Joelinton): The Magpies secure the lead as Joelinton takes a touch before thundering a stunning shot into the far corner from the edge of the area.

59’ GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 AC Milan (Pulisic): Pulisic taps in from Giroud's composed pass after Leao's cross was miscued into his path.

69’ NEWCASTLE CHANCE! Guimaraes takes Isak's pass from the left and thumps in a scorching 20-yard shot that Maignan somehow touches on to the crossbar.

79’ AC MILAN CHANCE! Leao races clean through but fires his low shot against the foot of the post.

84’ GOAL! Newcastle 1-2 AC Milan (Chukwueze): The super sub strikes for the visitors. Chukwueze has only been on a matter of seconds but he guides a lovely shot into the far corner from the right side of the box after a lovely counter-attack.

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