UCL: AC Milan send Newcastle out of Europe

 

On Wednesday night, AC Milan piped Newcastle United to the third spot of their UEFA Champions League group with a 2-1 win at St. James Park.

The Diavolo had gone behind before goals from Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze overturned the hosts to secure a spot in the Europa League.

This means the Premier League side that returned to the competition after 20 years are out of European competition.

Newcastle needed at least a win, hoping that Paris Saint-Germain will lose, but they played a 1-1.

Fikayo Tomori, who seemed to be the only fit central back for the team that has been battling injuries, made an extraordinary tackle to prevent the Miguel Almiron tap-in from a yard in what was practically a goal-line clearance on the Joelinton roll across that had already beaten Mike Maignan.

Rafael Leao, who recently returned to the action, saw his curler flash across the face of the goal.

Newcastle would break the deadlock with a ferocious hit from Joelinton into the far top corner from just inside the  Although the first touch from the Brazilian was poor, he improvised to use the accidental flick up to thump it on the half-volley with his right foot.

Leao lacked an obvious match sharpness as he looked off the pace after a month out. He also found his name in the book of the referee for lashing out an arm at Almiron. 

Milan restored parity on the hour mark from an uncleared corner. Leao’s cross from the left found a fresh-air volley, but Olivier Giroud intelligently sought out Pulisic at the back post to tap in.

Maignan was called into action as he palmed the Bruno Guimaraes strike onto the crossbar on 69 minutes, as he managed to get it done with a strong wrist after the deflection through a crowd of players.

An opportunity came the way of Livramento as the midfielder, but he failed to connect with a pull-back from 12 yards.

Rafael Leao got a huge opportunity when sent clear on the counter, but he needed the near post when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Milan eventually got in front through a counter-attack with their substitutes, as Noah Okafor spread it down the right for Samuel Chukwueze, who cut inside to curl left-footed into the far top corner.

Tomori had an opportunity to put the result beyond reasonable doubt. He almost made it 3-1 deep into stoppages, but his angled drive on the counter thumped the far post.

As it stands, only Borussia Dortmund and PSG will be going to the next round, while Newcastle will hopefully return.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed