Newcastle United edged out by Benfica

Newcastle United have missed out on the semi-finals of the Europa League following a 1-1 draw with Benfica at St James' Park.

Papiss Cisse's goal gave the Magpies some hope on the night before Eduardo Salvio scored late on to send the Portuguese side through 4-2 on aggregate.

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Benfica were the better team during the opening half and could have taken an early lead when Tim Krul hacked away Lima's instinctive effort with his legs.

The visitors came close again midway through the half, but Massadio Haidara managed to clear Nicolas Gaitan's shot off the line.

Newcastle thought that they had made the breakthrough minutes before the break, only for Papiss Cisse's goal to be correctly ruled out for offside.

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The hosts laboured at the start of the second half before Cisse had a second goal disallowed for offside on the hour following an assist from substitute Shola Ameobi.

The striker refused to be denied and he found the net with a header from Ameobi's cross on 71 minutes to keep Newcastle's hopes alive in the tie.

However, Benfica booked their place in the next round in the final minute as Eduardo Salvio finished off a swift counter-attack with his confident finish.