Alexander Isak believes PSG should not have been awarded a last-minute penalty against Newcastle United in their 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes.
Newcastle had high hopes of progressing for the knockout stages of the Champions League after Isak’s opening goal, but a contentious VAR decision in added time would crush Geordie hearts. After the game, Isak spoke with TNT Sports and claimed that his initial response was that it was not a penalty and that it appeared ‘cheap,’ but that he was very happy of the team’s overall performance.
Isak says penalty was ‘cheap’
Almost everyone involved in football has criticized the decision to award PSG a penalty for Tino Livramento’s handball, considering it an incorrect call that marred an otherwise excellent game.
Livramento, who had been impressive throughout the match in keeping PSG at bay, was penalized for an inadvertent handball that initially struck his chest before hitting his elbow.
Isak has expressed his surprise at the referee’s decision to grant the penalty after VAR recommended reviewing the incident on the monitor.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Isak commented, “It’s unfortunate for us to concede a goal so late. I feel we started defending our goal a bit prematurely. It’s never pleasant to concede a goal at such a late stage. My initial reaction was that it wasn’t a penalty. It seemed like a cheap call. I haven’t had the chance to see a replay. Hopefully, it was indeed a penalty. We need to have faith in the referees.”
“We are extremely proud of the team.” It is not an easy location to visit. They haven’t lost in a long time.
“We were almost there. It is regrettable. We always want to win, but this point is critical. We have everything to play for.”
Isak earns Newcastle a crucial point
Newcastle will depart Paris with a sense of disappointment, yet Alexander Isak’s goal has injected a glimmer of hope for their chances of securing a second-place finish in Group F and advancing to the Champions League knockout rounds. This goal, marking the first Champions League goal for Newcastle since Alan Shearer’s against Inter Milan in 2003, serves as a promising start under manager Eddie Howe’s tenure.
Isak capitalized on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s error, seizing the opportunity after Donnarumma deflected Miguel Almiron’s shot directly into the path of the Swedish international. As they prepare for their upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United, Newcastle’s focus might also shift towards their crucial final group match against AC Milan on December 13.
Isak’s alertness was evident as he provided Newcastle with an unexpected lead, particularly significant considering PSG’s strong start and their near miss, thwarted only by Nick Pope’s outstanding
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