Newcastle 1 Benfica 1

ALAN PARDEW hoped Newcastle would bring him tears of joy — but he was left holding back tears of pain.

The Toon’s Europa League journey was finally ended by Benfica last night — and their wait for a major trophy will now go into a 45th year.
But it was oh so very close. Papiss Cisse had two goals correctly chalked off for offside before his 71st-minute header gave Toon every chance of securing a place in the semi-finals.
The introduction of returning talisman Hatem Ben Arfa had the unbeaten Portuguese league leaders running scared.
But battling Newcastle, who have won their last three home games at the death, could not find another late goal this time around.
And in the end it was Benfica who scored in injury time, with Eduardo Salvio sweeping home sub Rodrigo’s cross as the home side were caught cold on the counter.
Toon will no doubt still be rueing last week’s second-half self-destruction in Lisbon, as they let slip a 1-0 lead which left them with a mountain to climb at home.

WE NEED MORE GUTS ... Newcastle haven't got enough bodies forward

Only Fulham and Steaua Bucharest have successfully overturned two-goal deficits in the Europa League knockout phase.
Newcastle’s local Evening Chronicle roared ‘We still believe’ on their front page, highlighting some of Toon’s great comebacks in the past.
And an expectant and packed-out St James’ Park were indeed still believing — right until the very last moments.
That was largely thanks to boss Pardew unleashing Shola Ameobi and Ben Arfa after the break.
The subs made a huge difference but it was just not meant to be.
Pardew had no doubt been conservative in his initial team selection but Benfica boss Jorge Jesus also sprang a surprise by leaving 28-goal Oscar Cardozo out of his line-up.
In his place he brought in Rodrigo Lima, who tested Tim Krul after just three minutes.
Andre Almeida whipped in a dangerous cross and the Brazilian’s clever six-yard backheel forced Toon’s stopper into a fine reaction stop.
Newcastle were the architects of their own downfall in Lisbon — and another cock-up almost killed off their hopes in the tie.
Krul went racing out of his goal to collect a long ball but came out too far and could not handle.
His error allowed Lima to slip in Nicolas Gaitan, who had the goal at his mercy but Massadio Haidara was able to clear off the line.

WHACK ... Cisse and the Benfica stopper collide

It was a crucial intervention from the French full-back, making his first appearance since Callum McManaman’s horror tackle on him at Wigan last month.
But the hosts were hanging on and Salvio should have done better than head wide from close range after Ola John’s cross.
Enzo Perez then forced Krul into more action with a dipping 25-yard volley.
And it was not until the 42nd minute that Artur had his first save to make in Benfica’s goal.
Yohan Cabaye sent Moussa Sissoko tearing down the left and he squared for Gael Bigirimana but his shot was straight at the Brazilian keeper.
It was enough, though, to give the Geordie faithful reason to roar.
And they erupted on the stroke of half-time when Cisse poked home Bigirimana’s whipped ball in, only for the fans to be silenced when the linesman correctly flagged for offside.
Pardew, though, would have been content with the first half, having said in the build-up he was confident his men could score twice with 10 minutes to go.
Cisse has been their late match winner recently and he would have company up top after the break with Shola Ameobi brought on.
The giant striker was immediately involved, latching on to Sissoko’s pass and forcing Artur to get down low and turn the ball round his near post.
Pardew waited until just after the hour to introduce returning Ben Arfa for his first home appearance since November.
But it was Cisse who was cursing his luck yet again as he volleyed home from Ameobi’s flick-on only for the linesman to flag — correctly — again. The Toon No 9 took it badly and was booked for screaming at the linesman
His time would eventually come and it did so when Ben Arfa’s run down the right caused panic in the Benfica defence.
A backline mix-up allowed the Frenchman to play in Ameobi, who crossed for Cisse to head past Artur after 71 minutes.
And he wanted a penalty when he was clattered into by the Benfica keeper but ref Ivan Bebek was unmoved.
Newcastle pressed hard in search of an all-important second goal but left increasingly large holes at the back.
Gaitan forced Krul into a smart save before Ben Arfa blew the last great chance with a strike over Artur’s bar.
And Salvio had the last say to end any hopes of a dramatic Toon clincher.
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN - YOHAN CABAYE (Newcastle)
NEWCASTLE: Krul 7, Simpson 6, Williamson 6, Yanga-Mbiwa 7, Haidara 7 (Marveaux 6), Bigirimana 7 (Shola Ameobi 6), CABAYE DREAM TEAM STAR MAN 8, Anita 6 (Ben Arfa 7), Gutierrez 7, Sissoko 7, Cisse 7. Subs not used: Elliot, Perch, Gosling, Campbell. Booked: Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Cabaye, Cisse.