Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle result - Eddie Howe's side sunk by late Alejandro Grimaldo equaliser as UEFA Champions League top-eight hopes take hit

Newcastle United looked set for a fantastic away victory at Bayer Leverkusen, only for Alejandro Grimaldo to equalise with two minutes remaining.

Leverkusen were the better side in the first half and could have been a goal and a player up as, after Bruno Guimaraes saw a Robert Andrich header deflect in off his back, Malick Thiaw was lucky to stay on the field when he brought down Patrik Schick who was through on goal.

The second half was nearly all Newcastle though, as Anthony Gordon put in a dazzling display, but it took a goalkeeping error from Mark Flekken to get them back into the game when he brought down Nick Woltemade after first giving the ball away to the striker. Gordon sent the Leverkusen keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Newcastle went on to take the lead as Gordon's fantastic cross was headed home by substitute Lewis Miley, while Eddie Howe's side also struck the woodwork twice - through Gordon and Jacob Murphy - and saw Flekken make a great stop to deny Thiaw.

The hosts kept pressing in the closing stages and a clever dummy and run from Grimaldo allowed Ibrahim Maza to send a through-ball back to him, and the Spaniard slid home to level.

The result leaves Newcastle in 12th position in the table with 10 points; Leverkusen are 20th with nine.

It was struck into the ground but bounced wickedly and Ramsdale was only sure late on it was drifting just wide of his right-hand post.

Gordon and Woltemade go off. Not much time to make a difference.

He met Livramento's cross with a powerful volley but it flew a yard over the bar.

Heartbreak for Newcastle as Grimaldo dummies the ball leaving the ball for Maza who plays the ball back into the path of the Leverkusen playmaker and he makes no mistake sliding the ball home.

An attacking substitution from Leverkusen as they push for an equaliser.

He felt he should have had a foul in the period of play before his save.

He caused the problem himself when he gave the ball straight back to Leverkusen when coming out of his box to clear, but he was equal to Tella's fierce drive heading inside the near post.

The second time Newcastle have hit the woodwork with the substitute Murphy this time hitting a fabulous low curling effort that once more bounces into play after striking Flekken's left-hand post.

That could have been the game sealed there as Thiaw rose highest to meet Tonali's cross. Flekken clawed the ball back when it seemed to have gone beyond him.

Fine centre forward play from the Magpies striker, holding onto the ball before he is brought down by Maza.

Newcastle struggle to clear the ball and Kofane shoots on the turn but Ramsdale is comfortably behind it.

The Newcastle substitute heads home another fine cross from Gordon. The England international beat Arthur on the outside and put in an outswinging cross with his left foot which Miley met with a header six yards from goal.

Leverkusen's second substitution.

He was anonymous in the first half but looks so dangerous now. He curled a wicked cross into the arera which Grimaldo clears.

Tonali slipped and Leverkusen raced through on the break, but Poku shot at goal rather than slide in Kofane. The effort deflected over off Hall but looked to be going wide anyway.