AFTER an away performance for the ages, this was the most sickening end imaginable.

Deep into eight minutes of injury time, sensational Newcastle were undone in the cruellest way when a penalty was given against Tino Livramento for handball.

12Tino Livramento was judged to have handled the ball in the area12It came off the defender’s chest and onto his armCredit: Getty12PSG players appealed for the decision in desperate fashionCredit: PA12Newcastle protested as the ref was called to the VAR monitorCredit: Getty12Mbappe converted the controversial penaltyCredit: Getty12PSG’s destiny is now in their handsCredit: AP

Up stepped Kylian Mbappe to deliver the killer blow, undoing what had been a sensational showing from Eddie Howe’s Mags.

Ally McCoist slammed the decision as a “shambles” and Alan Shearer raged “do me a f****** favour man. What a load of s***”.

Until then, after Alexander Isak’s first-half goal, Newcastle had gone from bottom of Group F to second to leave qualification in their own hands.

Defeat would have seen them knocked out so in the end a draw is not the worst result.

It leaves Toon third, two points behind PSG with one game – at home to AC Milan – remaining.

So all is not lost but the Geordies now need to beat the Italians and pray Borussia Dortmund do the business against the Parisians.

Nobody gave Howe’s injury-ravaged side much hope of getting a result here – let alone a win.

Yet for 96 minutes it looked like that was exactly what they were about to conjure following a pitch-perfect showing.

Yes, this was as backs-to-the-wall as it gets in the second half as PSG threw the kitchen sink.

But Howe has fostered something special in this group and, despite wave after wave of intense pressure, the Geordies looked like they were going to hold firm until Ousmane Dembele played it off Livramento’s chest and then onto his outstretched left arm.

Regardless, this was one hell of an effort from Newcastle.

Nick Pope made a host of brilliant stops to claim the unlikeliest of clean sheets behind the imperious Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles.

12Isak had put the Toon ahead in the first-halfCredit: Getty12Nick Pope frustrated PSG with several great savesCredit: AFP

A shocking decision from an elite referee, says Halsey

By Mark Halsey

IT is a shocker that could cost Newcastle a place in the Champions League last 16.

And it is so bad that Uefa’s refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti should come out and provide answers.

Szymon Marciniak has taken charge of World Cup and Champions League finals and an official of that calibre has to have the confidence to stick with his original decision.

Uefa’s own guidelines state “no handball offence should be called on a player if the ball has previously deflected from his own body and, in particular, when the ball does not go towards goal.”

Did both the VAR and Marciniak, who checked his decision on a pitchside monitor, miss the deflection off Tino Livramento’s chest?

It was similar to an earlier incident where the ball glanced off Lewis Miley’s leg onto his arm when no penalty was awarded.

Also Livramento was in close proximity to Ousmane Dembele for the PSG forward’s original cross which came at pace, his arm was in a natural position and it was not a deliberate act.

It is just a really poor intervention from VAR and a shocking decision from an elite referee.

Until that point, the Polish official was having a good game.

Kieran Trippier was pitch-perfect in shutting Kylian Mbappe out until the dying moments.

Livramento was phenomenal at left-back until then and his magical run created the opportunity for Isak’s winner from close range.

Brazilian baller Bruno Guimaraes turned warrior supreme with one of his best shifts in black and white alongside indomitable workhorse Joelinton.

Teen midfielder Lewis Miley continues to defy logic as the 17-year-old, in just his fourth pro start, looked like he was born for the biggest stage, popping up here, there and everywhere with vital contributions.

Miguel Almiron was a constant menace in and out of possession, Anthony Gordon didn’t have the best night going forward but did so much  the way, while Isak bagged the goal that looked destined to go down in Tyneside folklore.

From back to front, from start to finish, the Toon were brilliant.

Injury-hit Newcastle were without 10 players from their 23-man squad, leaving their bench laughably light.

Two short of the possible nine subs, there were two goalkeepers, two left-backs and three kids for Howe to call upon for this make-or-break clash, with defeat seeing them dumped out of the Champions League.

The answer? Don’t make any changes and trust the 11 to deliver the game of their lives.

Revenge was in the Parisian air after Newcastle slapped them 4-1 at St James’ Park in October.

A group of ultras stormed a pub full of Toon fans on Monday night but that didn’t stop the travelling contingent – including hundreds without tickets – enjoying a right old knees-up yesterday afternoon in the French capital.

The Parc des Princes was rocking by kick-off and Newcastle were creaking from the word go as PSG caused carnage down the flanks.

You really started to fear for Newcastle but just when it looked like being the longest of nights, Almiron picked Achraf Hakimi’s pocket and put it on a plate for Isak, only for the Swedish striker to steer well over.

It felt like a defining moment, yet 13 minutes later Isak put the miss behind to send the Toon Army absolutely potty.

Left-back Tino Livramento picked it up 40 yards from goal and skipped past one challenge on his way to the box before going on a merry dance sidewards beyond four defenders and squaring to Almiron.

Miley’s run distracted the full-back, allowing the Paraguayan to let fly off his trusty left peg.

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It was far from his best effort but Gianluigi Donnarumma, down to his right, made a complete hash of it, parrying it into the path of the onrushing Isak to stab home.

With Borussia Dortmund ahead at AC Milan, Newcastle leapt from bottom of Group F to second. Having fired two blanks beforehand, this was the Mags’ first Champions League away goal in just shy of three-and-a-half hours.

PSG then came back at them but Fabian Schar’s brilliant block to deny Ousmane Dembele the closest they came before the break.

Dembele had the next big chance 55 minutes in but Pope was out in a flash to block.

And the England keeper continued to make a mockery of his England snub with a sensational stop to deny Bradely Barcola.

Mbappe burst into life on the right side of the box and squared for the sub, who got perfect contact on it from point-blank range but Pope, with the ball almost behind him, somehow scooped it away.

Newcastle could not get out of their own half for the rest of this one and were clinging on for dear life.

PSG were shooting wide and over time and time again….until the penalty was given and Mbappe broke Newcastle’s hearts.

1212Alexander Isak revealed he didn’t think it was a penalty post-matchCredit: Getty12Thousands of Toon fans were applauded by the players at the final whistle