Eddie Howe says Polish referee Szymon Marciniak wanted to be stronger to stay together with his on-field resolution as Kylian Mbappe’s last-gasp penalty denied Newcastle a well-known victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Marciniak was suggested by VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski to overturn his resolution to not award the hosts a penalty within the seventh minute of stoppage time after Ousmane Dembele’s cross deflected onto the elbow of Tino Livramento.
Following a prolonged delay during which Marciniak consulted his pitchside monitor, PSG have been awarded a spot-kick which Mbappe dispatched to make sure their Champions League destiny stays of their palms.
Newcastle should now beat AC Milan within the closing spherical of fixtures and hope they higher PSG’s end result away to already-qualified Borussia Dortmund.
Talking to TNT Sports activities, Howe mentioned: “I am nonetheless coming to phrases with it. I really feel actually flat however on the similar time actually happy with what the gamers gave at present. Their dedication, execution… We rode our luck. We ran out of luck on the finish. I did not assume it was a penalty.
“What you do not take note of with these replays is how fast the ball goes. It hits his chest first. If it hits his palms first, effectively it is nonetheless not a penalty as a result of he is so shut. However you can also make extra of a case.
“It is not a penalty when it hits his chest first after which hits his hand which is low. I am not allowed to sum it up. I am unable to say my inside ideas clearly [I’d get in trouble].
“I thought the referee was having a good game up until this moment. He had been strong.”
Howe: We’re nonetheless alive and preventing
The Premier League aspect, who received the reverse fixture 4-1, have been heading for a memorable night time within the French capital after Alexander Isak’s first-half purpose.
They have been on the way in which to securing the three factors which might have put qualification to the knockout levels into their very own palms.
Howe continued: “Nick [Pope] was like he was against AC Milan away when we needed a giant performance from him. The players accepted we had to defend well and defend our goal like our life depended on it.
“It seemed like we bought there. They missed some possibilities, you’ll be able to’t deny that.
“When we’ve defended so well in that shape, with that personnel for so long, sometimes you make a change and it creates a mistake. Sometimes you twist, sometimes you stick. We decided to stick and obviously it didn’t work out.
“We’re nonetheless in it. That is one other factor we won’t overlook. We may simply have come right here and haven’t been within the competitors anymore. We nonetheless consider. As a lot because it’s an enormous, deflating feeling – it may very well be one other story in our season.”
Analysis: Shocking call denies Newcastle
Sky Sports activities’ Adam Bate:
Paris Saint-Germain scored with their thirtieth shot of the sport and numerous these have been clear alternatives so Newcastle may effectively have been punished sooner than they have been. However it was the way of the equaliser, a present from the officers, that can so grate.
Mbappe didn’t breach the Newcastle again line with a little bit of brilliance. He was handed the ball and in a position to convert from the penalty spot not due to a Newcastle error both. Only a desperately merciless penalty name that required a VAR assessment to make it occur.
The choice to award a spot-kick for the ball placing Livramento’s arm after bouncing there through his chest would have been inexplicable regardless – there was nothing unnatural about his physique form. It’s known as operating. However it was even stranger given earlier occasions.
There had already been a VAR verify when the ball hit the arm of Miley having bounced off one other physique half. On that event, the referee was not requested to view the monitor. It was no penalty both however the response time for Livramento was even much less.
“It is a disgusting decision,” mentioned Tim Sherwood, watching the sport for Sky Sports activities. “It is ridiculous. It is impossible.” Howe appeared bereft afterwards. So shut and denied not by the genius of Mbappe however by a genuinely weird little bit of decision-making.
Mbappe: We missed too many possibilities
Paris Saint-Germain goalscorer Kylian Mbappe on TNT Sports activities:
“It’s hard when you see the game. What happened was we had so many chances to win. In football you can be so much better but don’t win.
“I attempt to be at my finest degree each night time. I feel I may have completed extra for my workforce. I had many possibilities and did not rating extra objectives.
“Too many chances. You watch many games and in the Champions League you have to score when you have the opportunity.”
Newcastle’s night time in stats
- In all European competitors, Newcastle have solely received considered one of eight away video games in opposition to French sides (D3 L4), with that win a 4-0 victory in Sochaux in November 2004 within the UEFA Cup.
- Paris Saint-Germain have misplaced simply considered one of their final 36 dwelling group stage video games within the UEFA Champions League (W28 D7) and stay unbeaten in 11 such video games since a 1-2 loss to Man Utd in October 2020 (W9 D2).
- Alexander Isak grew to become the primary participant to attain an away UEFA Champions League purpose for Newcastle since Alan Shearer vs Inter in March 2003. Newcastle had failed to attain in both of their two away video games within the competitors this season earlier than visiting PSG.
- Isak grew to become the fourth Swedish participant to attain for an English aspect within the UEFA Champions League after Freddie Ljungberg for Arsenal and Henrik Larsson plus Anthony Elanga for Manchester United.
- At 17 years & 211 days, Lewis Miley grew to become the youngest participant in Newcastle’s historical past to begin a significant European recreation. He was additionally the third youngest Englishman total to begin a UEFA Champions League match after Jude Bellingham in October 2020 (17y & 113d) and Phil Foden in December 2017 (17y & 192d).
What’s subsequent?
Newcastle are again in Premier League motion at dwelling to Manchester United on Saturday; kick off 8pm. Paris Saint-Germain go to Le Havre in Ligue 1 on Sunday; kick-off 12pm.
Newcastle full their Champions League group stage marketing campaign at dwelling to AC Milan on December 13; kick off 8pm. PSG go to Borussia Dortmund on the similar time.