Newcastle United conceded another painful late goal as Alex Grimaldo rescued a dramatic Champions League point for Bayer Leverkusen.
The visitors showed superb powers of recovery to come from behind in the second half after Bruno Guimaraes’ 13th-minute own goal at the BayArena.
Anthony Gordon equalised from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, before setting up 19-year-old substitute Lewis Miley, who headed home his first goal in the competition.
But there was a late twist in the tale when Grimaldo slotted home from inside the box in the 88th minute following a lovely move from Leverkusen.
It was the second week in a row Newcastle missed out on three points late on after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Eddie Howe’s side had been a little relieved to go into the break just 1-0 down, but they rallied after the break.
And they took full advantage after Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken presented the visitors with an early Christmas gift.
He was far too casual as he attempted to play the ball out from the back as Nick Woltemade closed him down and the former Brentford number one ended up giving away a penalty with a panicked sliding tackle on the German inside the box.
Up stepped the influential Gordon, who coolly sent Flekken the wrong way to level with his third penalty in three games.
The in-form forward very nearly put Newcastle in front when he struck the base of the post with a left-footed effort midway through the second half, before setting up Miley’s 74th-minute effort – which made the teenager the club’s youngest ever scorer in the competition.
But they could not hold on for victory as Grimaldo struck to leave Newcastle 12th in the standings.
