Joe Willock stepped up as spirited Newcastle United came from behind to draw against holders Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe stressed he trusted his squad as he made five changes for this almighty test, and the recalled Willock repaid the faith of his manager with his first ever goal in the competition on a night the visitors narrowly missed out on a place in the top eight.
It was the midfielder who ghosted into space to power a header past Matvej Safonov in first-half stoppage time to cancel out Vitinha’s opener and stun the Parc des Princes as both sides move into the play-offs.
Harvey Barnes had a glorious opportunity to win it for Newcastle late on, but the substitute, somehow, could only volley the ball into the side netting from close range with the goal gaping.
Newcastle and PSG ultimately had to be content with a place in the play-offs on a night they needed to win to automatically qualify for the last 16.
But Newcastle, who have won just three games on their travels, will take immense encouragement from this display after the visitors rallied following a shaky start in the French capital.
The game had only just kicked off when PSG were awarded a penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) review after the ball bounced off the arm of Bradley Barcola and then struck Lewis Miley’s hand inside the box.
Referee Slavko Vincic consulted his pitchside monitor and pointed to the spot in a decision that brought back memories of Newcastle’s last visit to the French capital, when PSG scored a controversial stoppage-time equaliser from the spot in 2023.
However, this time, goalkeeper Nick Pope got down to his left and saved Ousmane Dembele’s spot-kick with a strong hand.
The away end roared in encouragement, but Newcastle were soon behind when the unmarked Vitinha had all the time he needed to look up, pick his spot and drill the ball past Pope from the edge of the area.
Pope went on to make a vital save in the first half to deny Dembele, the Ballon d’Or winner, but Newcastle stayed in the game and grabbed an equaliser after PSG failed to deal with a set-piece.
Both sides had their chances to win it after the break, as the game became stretched, but Dembele and Barcola fired over from decent positions for PSG.
Safonov fumbled an effort from Jacob Ramsey and later parried Anthony Gordon’s venomous strike before Barnes had a huge chance late on.
But Newcastle and PSG ultimately had to make do with a share of the spoils and a place in the play-offs as the French side finished one place above Howe’s men in 11th.
Newcastle analysis: Resilient visitors show mettle on big stage
This was a night when Newcastle could have gone under.
The aim was clear: be solid in a back five, stay in the game and use the athleticism in the side to hurt PSG on the break.
But those plans soon appeared to be in tatters after Newcastle fell behind at a buoyant Parc des Princes.
It looked an uphill task.
Indeed, even when PSG were dealt a mini setback, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia limped off in the first half, Luis Enrique had the luxury of throwing the gifted Desire Doue on.
But Newcastle showed the resilience that has so often been missing on the road to dig in and draw level.
Willock epitomised that, not only by equalising but by defiantly dropping to his knees and putting his finger to his lips afterwards in celebration as the crowd whistled loudly.
Newcastle will have expected PSG to come roaring back in the second half, but the visitors defended manfully, with Sven Botman blocking an effort from Achraf Hakimi before Lewis Hall followed suit to get in the way of Doue’s shot.
Howe’s team could have won it in the end and were rightly serenaded with a chorus of approval when they approached the travelling support at full-time.
Newcastle now have to crowbar a two-legged play-off into an already packed schedule, but they will fancy their chances of reaching the last 16.
Certainly if they play with the heart they showed on Wednesday night.
