Milan won 2-1 in the final match of Group F of the Champions League, causing the home team Newcastle to lose their ticket to the round of 16.
Before the match on the evening of December 13, Newcastle and Milan were ranked third and fourth in Group F with five points each. Meanwhile, PSG ranked second with seven points. If PSG drew or lost to Dortmund, Newcastle only needed to beat Milan to advance to the round of 16. Due to their better head-to-head record, Newcastle would be ranked above PSG in the event of a tie. Meanwhile, Milan's chance of advancing is narrower. The Italian team must beat Newcastle and hope that PSG loses to Dortmund.
Initially, things were going in Newcastle's favour. They took the lead against Milan in the 33rd minute, when Joelinton volleyed past goalkeeper Mike Maignan. At that point, PSG were still tied 0-0 at Dortmund. In the 51st minute, Newcastle were even within touching distance of progressing, when Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring for Dortmund.
Joelinton celebrates scoring the opening goal in Newcastle's 1-2 defeat to Milan in the final round of Group F of the Champions League on the evening of December 13, at St James' Park. Photo: EPA
However, things changed after that. PSG not only equalised, thanks to Zaire Emery's goal in the 56th minute, but Milan also fought back to claim all three points against Newcastle. The tide began to turn in the 59th minute, when Olivier Giroud crossed for Christian Pulisic to tap in the equaliser. Newcastle pressed forward in an attempt to take the lead again, but failed. Goalkeeper Maignan saved the English side's best chance of the second half, when he deflected Bruno Guimaraes' curling effort against the crossbar.
The all-out effort in the final minutes cost Newcastle. In the 84th minute, not long after Rafael Leao hit the post, the striker who had just come on as a substitute, Samuel Chukwueze, ended the English team's dream. After a central pass from Okafor, the former Villarreal player curled the ball into the far corner with his left foot to seal a 2-1 victory.
Chukwueze celebrates the decisive goal in Newcastle's 1-2 loss to Milan in the final round of Group F of the Champions League on the evening of December 13, at St James' Park. Photo: Ansa
Milan could have scored a third goal if they had taken better advantage of their chances. Theo Hernandez missed a golden chance when he shot wide of the goal, while goalkeeper Martin Dubravka stepped up to support the attack.
Losing to Milan, Newcastle accepted to finish bottom of Group F with five points. Meanwhile, Milan only won a consolation spot in the Europa League play-off round. The Italian team has eight points equal to PSG, but is ranked third due to an inferior head-to-head record.
Thanh Quy
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