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Newcastle 1-1 Benfica (agg 2-4)

By Chris McKennaBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments94

Eduardo Salvio

Newcastle were knocked out of the Europa League by Benfica after a late goal ended their hopes of completing a famous victory at St James' Park.

The hosts, trailing 3-1 from the first leg, had two Papiss Cisse efforts disallowed, either side of the break.

Cisse finally put them ahead after 71 minutes from Shola Ameobi's cross to put them within a goal of the semis.

But in stoppage time Eduardo Salvio struck on the counter-attack as the Portuguese side reached the last four.

It was never going to be easy for Newcastle to progress after Alan Pardew's team lost 3-1 at the Estadio da Luz in the first leg in Lisbon, especially considering that Benfica have lost just three games in all competitions this season.

The visitors showed their class in the early stages and Newcastle keeper Tim Krul had to be alert to deny Lima after the attacker pulled off an inventive flick following full-back Andre Almeida's low cross.

The Magpies have taken this competition seriously despite it having a negative effect on their league form this season and manager Pardew resisted the temptation to rest players like Cisse and Yohan Cabaye ahead of Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland.

However, Cisse's threat in the first half was limited - the Senegalese isolated up front with Newcastle struggling to maintain possession.

The brighter Benfica side continued to attack and Salvio went close with a header from Ola John's well-placed cross.

Just before the break, the crowd at St James' Park thought their side had taken the lead against the run of play when Cisse turned in Gael Bigirimana's cross but the assistant referee's flag for offside correctly spoiled the celebrations.

Pardew brought on striker Ameobi at the break and the substitute gave Benfica keeper Artur his first real work of the game when his deflected cross was turned away at the near post.

Benfica tribute to Sir Bobby Robson

Benfica failed to turn their pressure into chances before Cisse had another goal rightly chalked off for offside and Hatem Ben Arfa, returning from a hamstring injury that was expected to keep him out for the season, came on for Vurnon Anita.

And the Frenchman was instrumental in the Magpies goal as he worked well down the right to allow Ameobi the space to poke a cross into the area.

Cisse could not be offside this time as the ball came back to him and he nodded into the net with Artur out of position in the 71st minute.

The hosts then pushed forward for a second that would have seen them progress.

Ben Arfa cut inside late on but the Frenchman fired well over before the visitors struck on the counter to end the Magpies' hopes of European glory this season.

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94 comments

  • Comment posted by User0632233255, at 23:27 11 Apr 2013

    We're a wee club? We got the the quarter finals you muppet. Bet you're a smb who has nothing better to do with your life. Lads played well, so proud to be a Geordie right now.

  • Comment posted by User0198607037, at 23:34 11 Apr 2013

    Proud of nufc tonight second half we played great.. Slightly unlucky to go out could have gone either way! Bring on makems Sunday!!

  • Comment posted by Ewok63, at 00:10 12 Apr 2013

    To all the Sad Mackems adding comments on this. Tonight was our 134th game in Europe. 130 more than you have ever played.

    Now go back to your play stations and leave the big computer to the grown ups

    And don't forget its school in the morning (or should that be 5choo1).

  • Comment posted by BigJB147, at 23:35 11 Apr 2013

    We played admirably and ultimately lost to a better side. I honestly would like to see them go on and win the competition as they are clearly talented, though I don't agree with Champions League sides dropping down into the Europa League as it cheapens the competition in my opinion. To the haters with nothing to offer but bile, feel free to sneer from behind the safety of your keyboards

  • Comment posted by Dan NUFC 91, at 10:48 12 Apr 2013

    A lot of people on here clearly didnt watch the match. Pardew did name quite a defensive line up and due to the tempo Benfica came out at i'm glad he did. If we'd conceded early on it was tie over. So we went attacking second half and it was all us. For those who said we were never going through what game were you watching, Benfica are a better team in general but last night I was proud of nufc.

  • Comment posted by Diallo, at 23:17 11 Apr 2013

    Newcastle were pretty close to an upset there, hats off to them.
    I could of course make a silly joke about Scottish linesmen and Cisse but I won't.

  • Comment posted by tobymaxtonesmith, at 10:31 12 Apr 2013

    Real shame to see how little coverage Newcastle have got in the Europa league compared to Spurs and Chelsea. Their fans care about it much more, as European football does not come around every year for them.

    The Europa League was not made for Champions League wanabees/dropouts like Spurs and Chelsea. It was made for teams like Newcastle and, from a few years back, Stoke, Fulham and Middlesbrough

  • Comment posted by User0827840157, at 00:18 12 Apr 2013

    Hatem Ben Arfa looked great tonight, shame that was the last competitive European game NUFC will have for at least a year. Papiss Cissé is on great form too as he's been close to getting a hat trick in each of the last 3 games (in all competitions). This sunday will be interesting as most (if not all) of Sunderland's strikers are injured or serving match bands.

  • Comment posted by Diallo, at 00:38 12 Apr 2013

    Newcastle lost this tie in the last 20 odd minutes of the first leg and apart from that the players did their club proud, it was so tight. They had the most difficult draw of all teams. Now on for 3 points in the derby.

  • Comment posted by MikeSimplex, at 10:19 12 Apr 2013

    We sorely need a CB who is comfortable on the ball and can move into and beyond the midfield when in possession, Cabaye was knackered having to keep coming so deep to get the ball off of Williamson. I hope we can strengthen that position in the summer.

    Great effort from a very weakened NUFC team, with Collocini and others back in the side we would have won comfortably IMHO.

    Good luck to CFC..

  • Comment posted by User0632233255, at 10:29 12 Apr 2013

    The only teams left now are champions league dropouts.. Surely the rules need changing...

  • Comment posted by User0763631003, at 10:00 12 Apr 2013

    JDandfries
    Yes it was a good effort against a good team that scored on the break when Newcastle were pushing for a winner. 2 bad mistakes in the 1st game cost them.

    I suppose when you watch Middlesborough for so long your judgement gets clouded. 1 win in 10 in the Championship? Now that's poor effort for you!

  • Comment posted by User0997511993, at 10:34 12 Apr 2013

    @66 If we'd gone for it all out in the first 20 mins and been caught on the counter like we were at the end, it would've been over before it began. We needed to exert some control and almost not score too early. The impetus was with us at the end but obviously we were caught.

    Our team being often unable to create clear cut chances is mostly down to the players, I think Pardew got it right

  • Comment posted by User0763631003, at 13:30 12 Apr 2013

    JDandfries
    Clearly the smog has obscured your vision. You're a sad little troll that has got nothing better to do than call a 'local rival'.

    Wasn't Boro's the record loss in a final? You're clueless and probably one of the many so called boro fans that never attend the Riverside hence the whoeful attendences there.

    Get your own team in order before criticising!

  • Comment posted by User0493713127, at 23:58 11 Apr 2013

    Shame, I though the toon had a realistic chance of getting through. Benfica are no mugs and proved too much for the toon. Gutted because Newcastle deserve better for their fans. Staying up will be vital now, I think Newcastle won't get relegated because they are playing well at home.
    Should beat Sunderland on Sunday, and need another win. Losing Sunday is unthinkable.

  • Comment posted by Carryingcoals, at 01:01 12 Apr 2013

    We did admirably well tonight against a team of Champions League pedigree. Really proud of that display and I doubt Sunderland will be able to cope with our attacking intensity. Well done even to the usual scapegoats like Williamson and Simpson. Great endeavour, nevermind eh!
    Post match in depth analysis from a proud toon fan...
    http://www.carryingcoals.com/?p=540

  • Comment posted by catterzf1, at 00:26 12 Apr 2013

    I see they conveniently fail to mention the blatant penalty we should have had when Cisse was taken out by Artur

  • Comment posted by User0937201632, at 08:02 12 Apr 2013

    They tried their best, got quite a long way and eventually were beaten by a better team. No shame, but need to get themselves up the league a bit now so this season can be remembered as a positive one.

  • Comment posted by User0997511993, at 10:45 12 Apr 2013

    @57 Think criticism of Anita is harsh. Maybe not a great game yesterday but is too small and has too much creativity to be used solely as a DM, more a box to box.

    Bigirimana criticism I can't understand at all. He's just 18 and puts in some fantastic passes and shows good composure. Getting stronger too

  • Comment posted by User0104600639, at 00:03 12 Apr 2013

    @23 of course you would. Do you really want to follow a team that offers nothing but mediocrity in perpetuity? Relegation was the best thing that happened to my team in the last few years. We got rid of the dead wood (Viduka, Owen, Martins) got back to winning and competing and came back stronger. You want 10th every year and nowt else, you keep it.

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