Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle: Report, result and goals as Toon denied win in Germany by late Grimaldo goal
Anthony Gordon and Lewis Miley scored in the second half for Newcastle
Newcastle were denied a huge win away at Bayer Leverkusen after Grimaldo struck late in an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Champions League.
The Magpies had powered back from a goal down in the second half through goals from Anthony Gordon and Lewis Miley, after Bruno Guimaraes’ early own goal in the first half.
Just when the Premier League side looked to be leaving Germany with a huge three points in their quest for automatic progression to the last 16, Grimaldo struck two minutes from time to ensure the spoils were shared.
It leaves Newcastle in 12th in the standings, two points off the top eight, with Leverkusen a point behind and down in 20th.
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Newcastle make horror start
Newcastle made a decent start in Germany, so it would have been bitterly disappointing for the travelling fans to go behind after 14 minutes, particularly given how easy it was for the hosts.
A corner was swung in from the left and Robert Amrich rose highest at the back post, with his header taking a crucial deflection off Guimaraes to take it past Aaron Ramsdale and into the net.
There was more danger for the visitors when Malick Thiaw tripped Patrick Schick when he was clean through, with a penalty initially awarded which was later adjudged to be a free-kick just outside the box.
Given it could be argued to be a denial of a goalscoring opportunity, Thiaw was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch. Grimaldo then skied the resulting free-kick in what was a big let-off for the Geordies.
Leverkusen regularly caught the visitors in transition in the first hald, with Ernest Poku driving forward before stinging the palms of Ramsdale before Jarrel Quansah tested his England team-mate with another effort as the half drew to a close.
Gordon and Miley turn game around
Just five minutes after the restart, Newcastle were back level thanks to a disastrous moment of Leveruksen’s own when goalkeeper Mark Flekken dallied on the ball before Nick Woltemade pounced in, with the ex-Brentford stopper bringing him down for a penalty.
Anthony Gordon stepped up to take the spotkick and made no mistake from 12 yards to put the Champions League clash back in the balance.
Gordon then nearly had his second after a brilliant driving run resulted in unleashing a nice strike which rebounded off the post.
Then moments after a Poku shot deflected just wide, substitute Miley put Newcastle ahead in Germany as he rose highest to nod in Gordon’s cross to complete the visitors’ turnaround.
Grimaldo strike earns point
Thiaw nearly put Newcastle out of sight but for a brilliant point-blank save from Flekken, before Jacob Murphy smashed an effort off the post. Up the other end a few seconds later, it was Ramsdale who had to be alert to deny in a frantic end to the game.
Grimaldo then punished Newcastle for allowing the conclusion to the game to be so open, with the Spaniard left-back firing past Ramsdale to bring the scores level.