04 October 2023 , 21:06
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Seeing as though it should be fresh in the sporting memory, visualise a Ryder Cup player holing a crucial putt on the 18th green out in Rome. Recall the fist-pumping, the chest-beating, the screaming. Well, there was plenty of similar stuff at St James’ Park … and that was just in the warm-up.
Seriously, only a couple of minutes had elapsed when Anthony Gordon closed down a defender and managed to block a clearance, conceding a goal-kick. Cue Gordon giving it the double-handed histrionics to the crowd and they loved it.
A few minutes later, Dan Burn executed the most routine of tackles on Ousmane Dembele, giving Paris St Germain a throw-in, and, for a moment, you thought the big fella was going to jump into the crowd to rejoice.
Considering Burn would give Newcastle a second goal before half-time - adding to Miguel Almiron’s opener - he went a little bit early on the celebration front. But it was that sort of night - a night when the idea that a home crowd could be a 12th man was proven NOT to be a myth.
First things first, Newcastle won this game because they were the more accomplished side. When it was needed, the home side defended with resolution and composure and, brilliantly spearheaded by Alexander Isak, they presented a varied attacking threat.
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Fabian Schar blasted home the fourth late on (AFP via Getty Images)And it was the midfield triumvirate of Sandro Tonali, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes who established the platform for this stunning victory. Luis Enrique’s failure to realise the problem - and tackle it - suggested he might go the way of most PSG coaches sooner rather than later.
He got some sort of grip on his team after Longstaff had scored Newcastle’s third but it might have been no coincidence that PSG enjoyed their best spell when there was almost an air of complacency around St James’ Park. Three-nil up, Kylian Mbappe a bystander, PSG players looking like they would rather be anywhere else than on Tyneside, it was all a bit too easy, believe it or not.
The crowd quietened a touch and PSG had a go. Such had been their effort for the first hour, it was inevitable that Eddie Howe’s men would tire as the game went on. But Newcastle didn’t just hold on, they finished with a Fabian Schar flourish to wrap up a win that, don’t forget, featured two local goalscoring heroes.
This was a night that belonged to Newcastle … its team and its fabulous 12th man.