WHERE there’s a Willock, there’s a way.
Newcastle survived ANOTHER penalty disgrace at Paris Saint-Germain to earn a draw thanks to unlikely hero Joe Willock.
The star’s first goal for almost a year rescued a point for the Mags after a rope-a-dope style fightback against the holders.
Vitinha’s early strike followed a Nick Pope spot-kick save from Ousmane Dembele but Willock ensured both clubs would face the play-offs.
Newcastle returned to Parc des Princes still feeling a huge sense of injustice from their last visit two seasons ago.
Having walloped them 4-1 at St. James’ Park earlier in the group stage, the Mags were seconds away from securing an historic double after Alexander Isak’s early strike.
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But, in the 98th minute, a highly controversial handball was given against Tino Livramento, thus allowing Mbappe to level from the spot.
And it did not take long for more penalty drama. Bradley Barcola got around makeshift right-back Lewis Miley and into the box inside the opening minute.
Sven Botman cut out his run, sending the ball cannoning off the PSG forward’s arm and onto Miley’s.
Shockingly, after a word in his ear from VAR and a check on the screen, referee Slavko Vincic gave it.
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Newcastle were fuming as Ousmane Dembele stepped up. But Nick Pope guessed right and came to their rescue to push it wide.
This was a straight shootout for a top-eight finish. And an extra pair of games was the last thing Howe’s injury hit squad needed with this already being the first of six across four competitions in 17 days already.
In a bid to freshen things up, he made five changes from the defeat to Aston Villa, ditching his much-loved 4-3-3 for a 5-4-1.
Surprisingly, he also opted to put Anthony Gordon, Toon’s top scorer in the competition with six, on the bench and thus missing out on a chance to pit his wits against PSG’s returning superstar right-back Achraf Hakimi.
But rather than bamboozle Luis Enrique’s side, it was the Mags who were caught short as PSG exploded into action and tried to wrap it up early despite the Dembele disappointment.
And just four minutes after being stunned into silence by Pope’s heroics, the local ultras were bouncing with joy.
It was all too easy. Unmarked Vitanha picked it up 30 yards out, sent the lunging Lewis Hall to the corner shop for a copy of The Sun, and stroked it into the bottom corner from outside the box.
Newcastle’s stopper was called into action twice more before PSG’s momentum was halted by a nasty looking ankle injury to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who got tangled between Anthony Elanga’s legs.
Willian Pacho produced a centre-half’s finish when blazing over after getting in front of Nick Woltemade to meet a cross from sub Desire Doue but their momentum had stalled.
Although things were more solid at the back, Newcastle’s big German striker was struggling.
One touch in the PSG box was all Woltemade had mustered while Toon had failed to register even a single shot on target as the clock reached 45.
But in the second minute of additional time, Willock got the one that mattered.
A long Sandro Tonali from halfway was knocked to the left. Dan Burn headed it back into the middle and the midfielder pounced to nod past Matvei Safonov for his first goal since February 8.
Buoyed, Newcastle were a different proposition after the break as Woltemade’s fine hold up play teed up Jacob Ramsey to fire right at PSG’s Russian goalie.
The locals were getting restless, especially after Barcola’s mazy run through three defenders ended up with him thumping a strike high into the stands and Dembele volleyed five yards off target.
Howe smelt blood, boldly introducing Champions League talisman Gordon and fellow winger Harvey Barnes, with five himself in Europe.
And the pair combined to almost win it right at the death. Gordon’s shot deflected straight to Barnes, but his falling effort hit the wrong side of the post.
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