Newcastle United let a valuable Champions League win slip late as Bayer Leverkusen fought back for a 2-2 draw at BayArena on Wednesday night.
Eddie Howe’s side overcame an early own goal by Bruno but could not hold on after a late equalizer, leaving qualification for the knockout phase still in the balance.
Truth be told, Newcastle started poorly and conceded in the 13th minute, when Robert Andrich’s header from a corner was inadvertently turned
into the net by Bruno Guimaraes.
The visitors nearly fell further behind, but a VAR review downgraded Malick Thiaw’s foul on Patrik Schick from a penalty and possible red card to a free kick and yellow.
Newcastle regrouped after halftime, and just five minutes into the second half, Nick Woltemade pressured Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken into a foul, winning a penalty. Anthony Gordon converted for his fifth Champions League goal of the season to level the match.
Newcastle then enjoyed their best spell of play, and in the 74th minute, Gordon’s cross found substitute Lewis Miley, who headed home to put Newcastle in front and become the club’s youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer.
Newcastle’s vulnerability to late goals sadly resurfaced to doom the Geordie Boys once more—with two minutes remaining in regulation, Alex Grimaldo broke through the middle and fired past Aaron Ramsdale for Leverkusen’s equalizer.
After Wednesday’s draw, Newcastle now have 10 points from six group matches and remain in the hunt for a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds.
“It was a tough game. I thought we played well,” Eddie Howe said after the game. “I thought the third goal was coming. Malick’s missed a good chance, the goalkeeper made a good save. So it was tough for us again. I thought we defended well. They’ve scored at the end.
“Rather than focus on the lateness of the goal, it’s more the way we’re conceding currently. The first goal in particular really gets me because we’ve worked well on set pieces and given ourselves a mountain to climb.”
The Magpies will next face derby-rival Sunderland in the Premier League, with the match scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 14.
