In their first Champions League home game in 20 years on Wednesday, a rampant Newcastle United put up a brilliant performance to clinch a magnificent 4-1 victory over French champions PSG.
Newcastle quickly took the lead through Miguel Almiron in the 17th minute, and six minutes before halftime, Dan Burn blasted home a header to double Newcastle’s lead. In a scorchingly hot atmosphere in the north east, PSG had no answer for the tenacious hosts.
Sean Longstaff scored the third goal for Newcastle five minutes into the second half, sending the home supporters into a trance. The crowd made sure there was no letup after the break.
Read Also:Howe Says PSG Game Will Be Crucial To Newcastle United
With a last-second fourth goal from defender Fabian Schar, Newcastle went to the top of Group F with four points, one ahead of PSG in second. An improbable goal from Lucas Hernandez gave the visitors hope.
PSG was eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage with the biggest defeat since losing 3-0 to Chelsea in September 2004. This was also the first time PSG had allowed four goals in a single group game since losing 3-4 to Deportivo La Coruna in March 2001.
PSG arrived in Newcastle having failed to get going in Ligue 1 this season and with a dismal record of five losses in their previous seven Champions League encounters with English teams.
The French champions were inferior from the start and failed to register a single shot on goal in the first half, which was the first time they had done so since November 2013 in the first half of a Champions League group stage encounter. That streak always appeared to be extending.
Almiron became Newcastle’s first goal scorer in the competition since Alan Shearer raised the roof off St. James’ Park, with the crowd celebrating every tackle in the drenched conditions, and some players following suit. Newcastle gradually gained control of the game.
Donnarumma had to make a number of excellent saves before he was helpless to stop Burn’s thunderous header, which was given after a protracted VAR review.
Longstaff’s goal, which Donnarumma really ought to have stopped after getting down, brought Newcastle close to a historic victory until Hernandez turned Warren Zaire-Emery’s cross into a danger for a PSG comeback.
PSG hardly ever tested Newcastle’s goal, and Schar’s spectacular long-range goal was the cherry on top for the joyful hosts. Nick Pope made a save to stop an Ousmane Dembele shot.
Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan drew 0-0 on Wednesday in Germany in the group’s other encounter, marking Milan’s second scoreless tie in their first two Champions League games this year.
.