Newcastle United’s fairytale Champions League run came to a cruel end on Wednesday night as AC Milan snatched a 2-1 victory at St. James’ Park. Despite taking the lead through Joelinton, the Magpies were ultimately undone by second-half goals from Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze.
The result means Newcastle are out of Europe entirely, while Milan drop into the Europa League. It was a bitter pill for the Geordie faithful, who had dared to dream of a famous European adventure.
A Game of Two Halves
The first half was a tight affair, with both sides needing help to create clear-cut chances. However, Newcastle struck first in the 33rd minute when Joelinton unleashed a thunderous strike from the box’s edge, leaving Mike Maignan helpless.
The Magpies were likelier to score in the opening period, with Bruno Guimarães and Miguel Almirón causing problems for the Milan defence. However, the momentum shifted after the break.
Milan’s Ruthless Comeback :
Milan emerged from the half-time interval with renewed purpose, and they were level just six minutes after the restart. Kieran Trippier cleared Fikayo Tomori’s header off the line, but the ball fell kindly for Pulisic, who tapped home from close range.
The equalizer rocked Newcastle, and they never really recovered. Milan continued to press, and they were rewarded in the 84th minute when Chukwueze curled a delightful effort into the far corner.
It was a cruel blow for Newcastle, who had battled bravely throughout the game. Ultimately, they were undone by Milan’s clinical finishing and inability to create clear-cut chances in the second half.
Disappointment for Newcastle, but Credit to Milan :
While Newcastle will be understandably disappointed with the result, they can take pride in their performance in the Champions League this season. They were a credit to the competition and gave some of Europe’s biggest clubs a real scare.
As for Milan, they will be happy to have secured Europa League football. They showed great character to come from behind and win the game, and they will be a force to be reckoned with in the second-tier competition.
The Final Word
Newcastle’s Champions League adventure may be over, but the memories will live long. They have shown that they are a team on the rise and will be back stronger next year. As for Milan, they have shown that they are still a force to be reckoned with on the European stage. The Europa League is theirs to lose.
