Nick Pope was Newcastle United’s hero in opposition to AC Milan on Tuesday evening, however he was not the one motive the Magpies had been in a position to hold a clear sheet on the San Siro.
Newcastle held AC Milan to a 0-0 draw of their opening Champions League recreation, producing a battling show to earn a degree.
The Magpies deserved it for his or her resolute defending, though AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli is adamant this his aspect ought to have gained the sport.
But they had been unable to discover a well beyond Pope, who was in impressed kind throughout his Champions League debut. The 31-year-old made eight saves to disclaim the Rossoneri, incomes back-to-back clear sheets for the primary time since January.
However, there was a second when Pope was overwhelmed and he needed to depend on one in all his Toon teammates.
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Rafael Leao’s staggering miss results in Jacob Murphy’s goal-line clearance
Rafael Leao produced the sport’s most comical second on Tuesday evening.
A wise transfer by AC Milan noticed the Portugal worldwide burst by way of on aim. He then led the Newcastle defence a merry dance, jinking and jiving by way of challenges with immense ability.
Leao appeared sure to open the scoring, just for the 24-year-old to try an audacious backheel. Rather than discover the again of the web, he stumbled to the ground in embarrassment.
The aftermath then led to a different probability, with AC Milan lastly discovering a well beyond Pope. However, Jacob Murphy, who couldn’t disguise his pleasure earlier than the sport, was there on the road to clear away the hazard.
Nick Pope praises his Newcastle ‘kitten’
After the sport, Pope spoke to NUFC TV and joked about Murphy’s contribution in between the sticks to disclaim AC Milan within the first half.
“Jacob’s always said he wants to be a kitten,” he said.
“So I was glad to see him back there on the line acting as one.
“So many different moments where we put bodies on the line. Made it difficult for them to score. Something to be proud of.”
While Pope may joke about Murphy at all times saying he needs to be a goalkeeper, or ‘kitten’, his intervention was huge.
The 28-year-old confirmed nice intuition to get on the road, guaranteeing he was in the appropriate place on the proper time to maintain Newcastle’s sheet clear.
