The young Magpies fell behind in the opening stages of their Group F clash at the Gateshead International Stadium following Julian Rijkhoff’s close-range tap in before United striker, Ben Parkinson saw a goal ruled out for offside on the stroke of half-time.
Samuel Bamba doubled Dortmund’s lead eight minutes after the restart and despite Sean Neave’s impressive finish in a dominant ending to the contest by the hosts, Newcastle’s second-string were unable to salvage a point.
Ben Dawson made three changes to the starting XI of their previous Youth League encounter, a narrow 1-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain, as 16-year-old right-back Leo Shahar - who joined the Magpies from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer, was handed a start against their German counterparts.
Kyle Crossley, who had netted three goals in his last three starts for Newcastle’s under-21 side, replaced Josh Donaldson while Norway Under-17 international Travis Hernes, who joined United from Shrewsbury Town last month, replaced James Huntley in the middle of the park.
Newcastle’s youngsters, who were aiming to move level on points with Dortmund with a victory, were forced into early defensive action as skipper Cathal Heffernan, who joined the Magpies in August following his departure from AC Milan, produced a last-ditch sliding challenge to block Bamba’s strike at goal after the Dortmund forward had raced in behind the Magpies defence.
In the 12th minute, Dortmund took the lead through Rijkhoff’s close-range finish. After Bamba evaded his marker on the left flank, the Germany under-18 international flashed a low pass across the face of goal, with the Dutch striker on hand to place the ball into an empty net.
Magpies goalkeeper Aidan Harris, named on the bench for Newcastle’s goalless Champions League draw away at AC Milan last month, prevented the visitors from doubling their lead after pushing Bamba’s fierce effort onto the roof of his own net.
With the half-time whistle approaching, Newcastle thought they had netted an equaliser as well as their first goal in the tournament’s history as Parkinson, following a scramble inside the penalty area, beat goalkeeper Robin Lisewski to a high ball before directing the ball home but the effort was disallowed after the Durham-born forward was adjudged to have strayed into an offside position.
Newcastle continued where they left off at the conclusion of the opening 45 minutes as Jamie Miley’s free-kick was directed into Emerson’s path before the Scotland Under-19 international’s teasing pass forced Hendry Blank into turning the ball over his own crossbar.
However, in the 53rd minute, Newcastle were delivered a tough blow as Dortmund netted a second through Bamba. After the left winger darted beyond Shahar before cutting inside, his low drive fired past Harris at the front post.
Aiming to halve the deficit, Emerson went close for the young Magpies after controlling Miley’s pass before the Carlisle-born teenager, unbalanced inside the box, directed an effort over the crossbar.
Dawson introduced Neave from the substitutes’ bench after the hour mark and the teenage forward, who made his England Under-17s debut whilst on international duty this month, halved the deficit for Newcastle’s youngsters in the 73rd minute.
After Charlie McArthur fired a delightful diagonal ball into Emerson’s path, the 17-year-old winger took the ball around Jaden Korzynietz before his low pass found Neave inside the box, who placed a neat first-time effort past Lisewski.
Harris prevented Bamba from regaining Dortmund’s two-goal cushion shortly after, standing tall as the winger raced through on goal before blocking the resulting effort.
Shahar was unfortunate not to draw Newcastle level as the England Under-17 international’s long-range drive from the edge of the box was crucially turned away by Lisewski's fingertips.
Newcastle United Under-19s: Aidan Harris, Leo Shahar, Cathal Heffernan (c) (Rory Powell 87), Ciaran Thompson, Dylan Charlton, Jamie Miley (Charlie McArthur 73), Ellis Stanton (Anthony Munda 63), Travis Hernes, Kyle Crossley (Sean Neave 63), Johnny Emerson, Ben Parkinson.
Subs not used: Adrian Janusz, Thomas Bryant, Matthew Taylor.
