Newcastle United holds PSG to a draw in Champions League clash
In a tense encounter, Newcastle United managed to earn a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain, a result achieved despite a controversial penalty decision that had Newcastle manager Eddie Howe fuming, reports BritPanorama.
The Magpies were handed a penalty just 45 seconds into the match when referee Slavko Vincic penalised Lewis Miley for handball. However, Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope played a crucial role by saving the penalty kick taken by Ousmane Dembélé. Despite this reprieve, Newcastle fell behind shortly after when Vitinha found the back of the net.
Newcastle equalised through a header from Joe Willock, and the match unfolded with both teams pushing for a victory during what proved to be an open and competitive second half.
The draw means that Newcastle will have to secure their place in the Champions League round of 16 via a two-legged play-off next month. Howe publicly expressed his disbelief at the decision against Miley, drawing parallels with a similar incident two years ago when PSG were awarded a last-minute penalty, which had dire consequences for Newcastle’s progression in the tournament.
Howe’s criticism extended to the need for greater consistency from officials, stating that if the handball ruling against Miley was valid, a similar decision ought to have been applied to PSG. He remarked that the reigning European champions, in his view, did not require any assistance from referees to create scoring opportunities.
“They’re an outstanding team – they don’t need help from anybody to create more chances for them,” he said, marking a departure from his usual cautious approach regarding officiating. Nonetheless, despite the disappointment of missing out on automatic progression, Howe expressed pride in his team’s resilience and performance, particularly in overcoming an initial setback.
Newcastle will now prepare to face either Monaco or Qarabag next month, adding to an already congested schedule, yet continuing to build on their character and tenacity in challenging matches.
Ultimately, this fixture serves as a stark reminder of how the world of football intertwines with contentious moments, with even the most dramatic events reduced to mere footnotes when it comes to the pursuit of glory on the European stage.
