Newcastle dramatically lost to Marseille in the Champions League after squandering an early lead, with two quick-fire second-half goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang highlighting their ongoing away inconsistencies.
According to a report from the Daily Mail by Craig Hope, Newcastle United squandered a magnificent chance to virtually secure their passage to the Champions League knockout phase, suffering a painful 2-1 defeat to Marseille at the Orange Velodrome.
Eddie Howe’s side started strongly, taking the lead after just six minutes. Following fine work from Joe Willock, Sandro Tonali sprung the offside trap before cutting the ball back for the “on-fire Barnes, who fired low into the corner.”
Newcastle carried this 1-0 advantage into the break, but the match turned on a dreadful sequence moments after the restart.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope was guilty of a “moment of madness” as he charged far out of his box, gifting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the first goal.
“The former Arsenal forward won the foot race, poked it past the Magpies’ goalkeeper and fired home from an acute angles.”
Just two minutes later, Aubameyang struck again, heading Timothy Weah’s cross past Pope to complete the turnaround.
The quick-fire double sealed Marseille’s first victory against English opposition in 12 attempts. The defeat means Newcastle, who are now facing “daunting matches against Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven and Paris St-Germain,” must postpone their celebrations regarding the next stage of the competition.