Heartbreak for Newcastle as Yamal’s late penalty rescues draw for Barca

2026-03-10 - 23:54

Barcelona’s Spanish forward Lamine Yamal (left) celebrates after scoring during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 match against Newcastle United. (AFP pic) NEWCASTLE: Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal struck from the penalty spot with the final kick of the game to salvage a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday, cancelling out a late strike from Harvey Barnes. Newcastle appeared set to take a slender advantage into the second leg after Barnes scored in the 86th minute when he volleyed home Jacob Murphy’s cross. However, elation for the home fans turned to heartbreak when Malick Thiaw brought Dani Olmo down in the box in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The 18-year-old Yamal, who had been quiet all night, fired the penalty into the bottom corner as goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale dove the wrong way. “Really tough,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe told TNT Sports. “I thought we were outstanding, a really good performance against a very good team. We kept the intensity up, which is very difficult to do against them for so long in the game. “The moment at the end obviously takes that in a negative light ... I don’t want that to override the 93 minutes beforehand where we played so well,” Howe said. Newcastle’s Joelinton thought he had scored earlier in the second half when he smashed home the rebound of Barnes’ shot off