Alex Grimaldo scored a late goal in the match against Bayer Leverkusen that ended in a 2-2 draw at BayArena, preventing Newcastle from coming from behind to win the Champions League.
Newcastle thought they had pulled off a comeback with a perfect smash and grab when Lewis Miley made history for his boyhood club by becoming the Champions League’s youngest goalscorer at the age of 19 with a second-half header.
Miley’s goal, perfectly set up by Anthony Gordon, who scored Newcastle’s second-half equalizer, promised to end Newcastle’s away woes, but legendary Leverkusen had other ideas.
Despite leading the game against Marseille last time out, Gordon lamented how easy it was for Newcastle to concede late on.
“Honestly, this has happened many times,” Gordon told TNT Sports after the game.
“I don’t really know (why they concede so many goals in the final stages). I don’t know if it’s fatigue from all the games that are coming up. They’re starting to get a little tired towards the end of games. I don’t really know, but I think it’s all mental.”
After a complete victory over Manchester City in the final round, the Bundesliga side took the lead in the 13th minute and were aiming for England’s new scalp. Roberto Andrić’s header was deflected into Newcastle’s own net by Bruno Guimarães.
Leverkusen almost had a chance when Malik Thiau brought down Patrik Schick outside the area. VAR intervened to check whether the challenge deserved a red card for denying a scoring opportunity. However, the initial yellow card decision stood.
Lewis Miley, 19, put his team ahead in the 74th minute and became Newcastle’s youngest ever Champions League scorer.
Newcastle could not believe their good fortune in the second half, having escaped with a goal at the other end, when Mark Frecken brought down an enthusiastic Nick Waltemade in the box due to his reluctance on the ball. Gordon stepped up and guided the former Brentford keeper the other way to score his fifth Champions League goal of the season.
Newcastle then had their best time with Gordon hitting the post for his second goal. Miley came off the bench and found just what Newcastle needed to boost their ambitions for a top-eight finish.
But Grimaldo had different ideas and equalized in the 88th minute with a shot past the onrushing Aaron Ramsdale. Newcastle chased a third goal, but Frecken then made a stop to deny Thiau, leaving Howe’s side to need a point.
Howe’s side have two games left in January to aim for a top-eight spot in the Champions League, playing Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven at St James’ Park on January 21st, before concluding their league campaign with a daunting away trip to favorites Paris Saint-Germain on January 28th.
Howe: I think there was a real lack of confidence that we could score.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said on TNT Sport:
“It was a tough game. I thought we played well. I thought the third goal was coming. Marik missed a great chance and the goalkeeper made a good save.”
“So, it was tough for us again. I thought we defended well. They scored at the end.
“At the moment I don’t know (why we conceded so many goals in the final stages). Goals are things that happen in the game and regardless of the timing, we didn’t defend those two goals enough today.”
“The first game was disappointing for us. The set-pieces made our night very difficult. From there we got on really well. And the second game, for me, I’ll have to look at it again, but it seemed like it was too easy for them to get through the middle of our defense, so we’ll have to look at that.”
“I wasn’t happy at half-time. I’m not necessarily happy with the performance. I thought the performance was okay. But there seemed to be a real lack of belief that we could score. You have to make things happen. You have to really believe in your heart that you have the quality and I believe we have it.”
“Obviously off the ball, we felt like we were close to them, but not in the final yards. And I thought we were both a lot better in that second half.”
