Newcastle United's penalty shoot-out nightmare continued when they crashed out of the Champions League in a dramatic finale against Partizan Belgrade.
The Magpies’ inability to hold on to their 1-0 lead against Belgrade will cost the club a staggering £10million in lost revenue. Instead they will now go into the hat for a place in the UEFA Cup.
Sir Bobby Robson's men can have few complaints as they were always second best against Lothar Mattheus' side.
That 1-0 lead was cancelled out five minutes into the second half when the Newcastle defence was torn to shreds and the outstanding Ivica Iliev scored in front of an open goal.
Newcastle never got going and were overrun in midfield where few chances were created for the strikeforce of Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi.
United had started off well and Partizan keeper Ivica Kralj saved from full back Olivier Bernard and a header from Ameobi.
However the slick passing of Partizan started to take its toll although they did very little to trouble Shay Given in the first half.
Nolberto Solano struck a fierce 20-yard drive that was beaten away by Kralj and Shearer turned a header from Jonathan Woodgate just over the bar.
Iliev's goal then completely changed the pattern of the game and the visitors grew in confidence.
Andrija Delibasic headed just wide on 55 minutes and Iliev then saw a low drive deflected just wide.
In time added on Partizan almost snatched a winner when Delibasic cut inside only for Given to pull off a superb save
Newcastle's only worthwhile effort in the first period of extra time saw a darting run down the left from substitute Laurent Robert bundled just wide by Ameobi.
Within seconds of the start of the second period Jermaine Jenas should have wrapped it up for Newcastle. Aaron Hughes broke on the right and pinpointed the unmarked Jenas who from just six yards somehow managed to head weakly wide.
Skipper Shearer almost snatched it with the last kick of the game as his low free kick saw Kralj going the wrong way but somehow stick out a foot to deflect the ball behind.
By then penalties were inevitable and going on past performances so too was Newcastle's imminent exit.
Incredibly only two players from each side managed to hit the target from the statutory five spot kicks.
Shearer and Kieron Dyer both missed Newcastle's first two shots and sandwiched in between Nikola Malbasa did exactly the same for Partizan.
Albert Nadj finally opened Partizan's account and the Balkan side looked firmly in the driving seat when Woodgate made it three successive misses for Newcastle.
Milan Stojanoski then crashed his kick against the bar allowing Ameobi to level it up at 1-1.
Newcastle were again playing catch-up when substitute Damir Cakar made it 2-1 before Lomana Tresor LuaLua levelled it up at 2-2.
Iliev, the striker whose goal had forced the game into penalties, then had the chance to win it for Partizan but astonishingly he blazed his shot over the bar.
Newcastle then went in front for the first time. Jenas making it 3-2 only for Partizan skipper Sasa Ilic to level it up at 3-3.
Newcastle's woe in front of goal returned when Hughes fired over the top and it was left to Milivoje Cirkovic to book Partizan's place in the group stage as the Belgrade players mobbed the midfielder.