Newcastle United were denied a memorable victory after PSG were awarded a disputed penalty in stoppage time by referee Szymon Marciniak, who had initially made the correct call.
Newcastle United experienced a heart-wrenching end to their match at Parc des Princes, often referred to as the city of love, as Kylian Mbappe’s controversial 98th-minute equalizer denied the Magpies a remarkable Champions League victory against PSG.
The Magpies seemed poised to secure three crucial points until referee Szymon Marciniak made a contentious call penalizing Tino Livramento for a handball inside the box, following a VAR review. Initially, Marciniak had let play continue, even cautioning Goncalo Ramos after PSG players surrounded him. However, upon consulting the monitor, Marciniak reversed his decision, awarding a penalty despite the ball hitting Livramento’s chest before brushing his elbow.
Kylian Mbappe converted the penalty, nullifying Alexander Isak’s earlier first-half goal and thwarting Newcastle’s chance at securing one of the club’s most memorable results. It was evident from the distraught reactions of Bruno Guimaraes and Isak, who collapsed on the turf at the final whistle. At that moment, Kieran Trippier engaged with Mbappe after the PSG star confronted the England international, expressing his discontent. Emotions were at an all-time high. Eddie Howe acknowledged he was’still coming to grips with it’ after a’really flat’ performance. “If they’re penalties,” Nick Pope added, “it’s bad for the game.” Alexander Isak said that the decision’seemed cheap’ even without viewing a replay. “It’s never nice to concede a goal that late,” TNT Sport’s goal scorer said.
In the dying moments of the match, Newcastle must have felt they were on the verge of a remarkable achievement, having managed to contain PSG despite the hosts dominating possession with 72%, attempting 31 shots, and earning three times as many corners. Fabian Schar, Lewis Miley, and Kieran Trippier displayed heroism with crucial blocks, while Jamaal Lascelles stood firm against Kylian Mbappe’s attempted nutmeg. Miguel Almiron’s relentless defensive efforts were notable, repeatedly tracking back to support the team.
Whenever Newcastle’s resolute defensive structure was breached, Nick Pope emerged as a savior, notably making a remarkable save to deny Bradley Barcola in the second half. It was a save befitting such a high-stakes match, yet Mbappe delivered a decisive blow in the final moments.
Newcastle’s fate is not in their control, but they remain in contention in the challenging group. A victory against AC Milan and support from Borussia Dortmund against PSG could propel Eddie Howe’s team into the last 16. It seems there might be more twists and turns ahead, with this match resembling a knockout fixture rather than a standard group game at the intense Parc des Princes. Eddie Howe referred to it as a ‘one-off game,’ while counterpart Luis Enrique likened it to a ‘final.’ The stakes were certainly high.
Rather than succumbing to pressure, Newcastle’s players discussed amongst themselves how they had craved such a situation during their push for Champions League qualification last season. They also recognized their capability to deliver a strong performance, even amid an injury crisis.
Newcastle had already triumphed over prominent teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Chelsea this season. Notably, they had previously defeated PSG 4-1 in their prior encounter.
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