Magpies left with it all to do on Tyneside

DIFFERENT opposition, a different venue and a different group of players, but there was a sense of history repeating itself for Newcastle United in a Lisbon quarter-final last night.

Eight years after surrendering a lead down the road against Sporting Lisbon, Alan Pardew's Magpies failed to build on an excellent start against a dangerous Benfica and ended up just like Graeme Souness' team in 2005: defeated.

When Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse followed on from where he left off in the last round against Anzhi with a tenth minute opener, Newcastle looked more than capable of leaving Estadio da Luz with a priceless victory.

But, while Cisse hit the post twice, the potent Portuguese league leaders found their sparkle going forward and made the most of some lapses in concentration from their Premier League counterparts.

Firstly Rodrigo levelled things up ahead of half-time when he reacted ahead of Davide Santon to pounce on a Tim Krul save.

Then Santon started five crazy second half minutes for Newcastle when his back pass played in substitute Lima who slotted Benfica ahead 24 minutes from time.

Newcastle needed to stay strong, but when Steven Taylor conceded a penalty for handball the prolific Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo converted to give Jorge Jesus' side a healthy 3-1 advantage.

One big difference to Lisbon 2005 is that Newcastle can at least try to make up for their errors at St James' Park next Thursday - when they must cling on to the fact that Cisse's away goal could still be important.

Keeping this Benfica team at bay, though, will be Pardew's main worry, having been unable to stand tall and hold on after watching his side start so well.

Newcastle might not have conceded a goal in European competition for almost 400 minutes of football, but Benfica ended that.

That was why Pardew was keen to recall Krul despite the encouraging performances of his understudy, Rob Elliot, after a seven-match lay-off with an ankle problem.

Newcastle had big plans to counter-attack in search of at least one important away goal - and the scheme worked.

Within seconds of the start they could have gone ahead when Cisse was denied from a tight angle when he brought down Moussa Sissoko's crossfield pass in behind the full-back.

There had also been a second warning for the home team. Sylvain Marveaux's pass between Benfica's centre-backs, Luisao and Ezequiel Garay, rolled for Cisse but Artur in the Benfica goal judged it well.

And after Krul had spilled a long range drive from winger Nicolas Gaitan before gathering ahead of the lurking Cardozo, Newcastle's willingness to break brought quick rewards.

When Danny Simpson spotted Sissoko charging down the right, his ball behind left wing-back Melgarejo was perfect. Newcastle's French buy from Toulouse then had the space and time to pick out Cisse as he ran centrally in on goal. The finish was cool and precise.

Even though Newcastle had the away goal they craved inside ten minutes, they continued to look dangerous moving forward and could have had a very similar second from the opposite flank.

This time Gutierrez took on his marker, Andre Almeida, before sliding a pass into the feet of Cisse, only for the African's shot to take a deflection and bounce kindly off the post for Artur.

It was a defining moment.

Benfica immediately found their attacking quality and showed the sort of vibrancy going forward which has earned them 103 goals in all competitions this season.

When Krul dived to his left to get a strong arm to Cardozo's rocket from the edge of the area, the Dutchman could only turn it into the direction of the onrushing Rodrigo who rolled in the equaliser a quarter of an hour after Cisse's opener.

That was the first goal Newcastle had conceded in the Europa League in six hours and 42 minutes and Benfica would have added to that before half-time had it not been for Krul.

He made a fantastic double save to deny both Andre Gomes and then Ola John. He also had to dart to his left to fist away a strong near post header from former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic to keep Newcastle level at the break.

The second half started like the first. When Newcastle quickly counter-attacked through Marveaux, the skilful Frenchman picked out Cisse again with a brilliant pass behind Luisao. With just Artur to beat, the striker's left foot chip looked destined for the net but it bounced off the foot of the post.

Cisse spent much of the second half helping out his team-mates defensively, but became embroiled in an angry exchange with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa when Benfica should have taken the lead.

The pair seemed to disagree on the reasons why a wasted gilt-edged Cardozo chance, when Rodrigo rolled possession into his path after Yanga-Mbiwa slipped, and had to be separated by Yohan Cabaye.

With signs of cracks in the Newcastle ranks, Benfica capitalised.

Firstly Santon stupidly tried a back pass and substitute Lima - who had only been on the pitch four minutes - beat Krul with a lovely angled finish.

And when John's cross hit the arm of Steven Taylor in the area, French referee Antony Gautier pointed to the spot. The official ruled out the initial spot-kick for infringement, but Krul could do nothing about the second either from Cardozo.

With 19 minutes remaining it was all about preventing more and, with some frantic defending and good goalkeeping, they managed to - just.