Newcastle United 4-1 PSG: Geordies in Champions League Dreamland as giants humbled at St James' Park

Where were you the night Newcastle United floored moneybags Paris St-Germain and superstar Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League?

This wasn't just history unfolding in front of our very eyes, it was Geordie folklore being written line by line. Many would have taken a narrow win against PSG but here they were battered.

The game had strong Barcelona and Tino Asprilla vibes from 1997 but this time Newcastle never looked in danger and put the lid on things late on rather than hanging on.

You can't write a script for stuff like this, and even if you had before the game few would have believed it was possible - not least with two boyhood Newcastle fans in Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff paving the way.

PSG offered next to nothing in the first half. And the 3-0 lead Newcastle steamrollered into inside 50 minutes wasn't just deserved it could have been MORE.

As the teams lined up for the Champions League anthems it was as bright and brilliant as many fans tasting it for the first time could surely have imagined. However, there was also a state of disbelief with the electrifying build-up to the Group F encounter something many young Geordies had only came near to experiencing on their Xbox or PlayStation.

With black and white flags waving in every stand and two brilliant banners at the Leazes End - reading "Hello, Hello, We are the Geordie boys" - and the Gallowgate unfurling a huge Magpie with the club's name on in the style of the Champions League draw ball, the fans could not have done more to add even more to the sense of occasion.

The spine tingling Champions League anthem was an emotional one for Toon stars with Dan Burn letting out a huge roar after it. But how would Newcastle do against the oil-rich French giants and Kylian Mbappe?

Well, a thunderous early tackle from Fabian Schar on Morocco World Cup star Achraf Hakimi set the tone as fans responded with a huge cheer in the opening 90 seconds. Moments later Anthony Gordon won the ball off PSG skipper Marquinhos before gesturing to the crowd to turn up the noise levels even higher.

But there would be an early warning sign of the dangers posed by the French side as Mbappe crossed and Ousmane Dembele cracked a volley marginally wide of the upright. Then with nine minutes on the clock came the cool Tyneside rain.

The game didn't need much more edge but it got with the downpour adding a slick top to an already lively surface. It was Alexander Isak that had United's first attempt at goal as he danced down the left before seeing his shot blocked with 12 minutes gone.

Moments later, Miguel Almiron latched on to a loose pass but unlike his rocket against Burnley, which flew into the top corner, the Paraguay star's shot sailed over the top. Almiron was then taken down by Manuel Ugarte 25 yards from goal.

That set up Kieran Trippier to have a go but his free-kick cannoned straight off the wall but the roof would be raised soon after.

First Marquinhos made a hash of a clearance before Bruno headed the ball down into the path of Isak. The Sweden international's shot was beaten away low down by Italy's number 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma but he could not readjust and Almiron slammed home the rebound!

The South American ace then slid on his knees in joy as he wan towards the fans then looked to the drizzly Tyneside skies. It all felt like something from a movie.

Bruno had been booked for an elbow in the first half but the former Lyon star would have a major impact in this game. His loss of early season form seemed a long time ago here.

Cue pandemonium around St James' Park with one Toon fan getting so excited his mobile phone cascaded down to the stands and ended up in the Press box just in front of the dugout! By the time Burn had slid in to halt Dembele in his tracks before screaming towards the old paddocks it had a gladiatorial feel about it.

The threat of quality was still there from PSG though with 17-year-old midfield star Randal Kolo Muani's effort sizzling inches wide. Newcastle came close to a second on 25 minutes when Trippier's clever corner was hooked short to Schar and the Switzerland ace drove just wide.

There were 10 first half minutes left when Isak went down with a head injury but was bandaged up and sent back on to continue after a change of shirt. Almiron won a free-kick on the corner of the penalty area on 39 minutes with Lucas Hernandez getting booked.

The narrative swung firmly into Newcastle's favour on though as Howe's team turned this screw on PSG again. Trippier's free-kick eventually ended up in the path of Bruno who hung up a cross and Burn crashed the ball past Donnarumma.

It led to a lengthy goal check of almost three minutes by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs and his team but he eventually signalled it stood. And all 10 outfield players ran to Burn before the Blyth lad punched the air in front of the Press box.

And that's how it stayed going into the interval with Newcastle 2-0 up and PSG the team with all the questions to answer. Just six minutes into the second half came another magic moment.

As Newcastle broke forward again, Almiron and Trippier combined perfectly before Longstaff hammered a shot across the face of goal but Italian golden glove winner Donnarumma could only watch on as it bounced off his body and into the net.

This was the stuff of dreams for Longstaff just two weeks after nearly scoring the winner at the San Siro against AC Milan, the kid who was once ball boy in the Europa League against Benfica had put his team in full control against PSG.

It was a goal that had PSG boss Luis Enrique waving his arms in a desperate bid to revive his team. This was insane, this was beyond the realms of fantasy but it was actually unfolding on a wet Wednesday night in Newcastle.

Superstar Mbappe looked on in a state of shock but none of PSG's big earners had done anything in the first hour to justify their huge wages. Until the 56th minute that is when Zaire-Emery nonchalantly dinked the ball in and Lucas Hernandez nodded calmly past Nick Pope.

Suddenly there were a few nerves around St James' Park as PSG started to push on. The visitors made a change when Bradley Barcola came on for Randal Kolo Muani quickly followed by Vitinha for Ugarte.

Howe made a change of his own when Elliot Anderson replaced Tonali with 26 minutes to go. As a little bit of apprehension creeped in Gordon was booked for a challenge on Marquinhos on 70 minutes.

Almiron went off after a tireless shift and crucial goal with 19 minutes to play with the playmaker replaced by Jacob Murphy. Newcastle though needed Pope to get a hand on Dembele's effort on 77 minutes.

Trippier's free-kick into the box for Bruno saw a tame header gathered by the keeper but Newcastle were now just minutes away. Isak slammed a shot in from long range in the dying stages but again the keeper held on.

The threat of PSG though was ever present even going into the last throes of the match. Or at least a mere swipe of Mbappe's right boot suggested as much with a shot whistling just wide. Seconds later Mbappe rolled the ball to Vitinha but the effort went over.

If this was a cake for Newcastle, there would icing on top of it by the end. Schar steamed into a challenge and won the ball then exchanged passes with Jacon Murphy before the Swiss ace slammed it into the top corner!

Newcastle were 4-1 up and the flags were being waved. Mbappe looked away again and Enrique stared into space. You could say this was fantasy football for the Magpies but even that hardly does it justice, United had played astronomical football from start to finish.

Straight after the final whistle Mbappe marched down the tunnel with his head bowed. Newcastle have arrived Europe - make no doubt about it.

Bring on Borussia Dortmund.

Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)

Attendance: 52,009