He then fired Newcastle into the quarter-final of the Europa League with a last-gasp header against Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
But all the missed chances were forgotten as Cisse pounced on Yohan Cabaye's 25-yard shot and volleyed past Mark Schwarzer in the third of five minutes added on.
They had returned from Lisbon battered and bruised after their second-half collapse against Benfica, which followed losses at Wigan and Manchester City.
But this was their fourth straight Premier League win at St James' Park and leaves them looking forward to Thursday's Europa League return leg and Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby with confidence.
They had chances of their own with Dimitar Berbatov showing glimpses of the form which had seen him plunder five goals in his last four games.
And he nearly bagged the opener against his boyhood club, curling a 20-yard strike just over with the outside of his right boot.
Sissoko attempted to drive the hosts forward and his sharp run and cross down the right was met by Steven Taylor, who headed over.
And their crisis deepened when Davide Santon — keen to make up for his backpass blunder at Benfica — went off with a hamstring injury.
The hosts, though, continued to press. Cisse had a close-range strike blocked by Brede Hangeland and then curled over from just inside the box.
Berbatov fashioned a good chance for forward partner Bryan Ruiz but the Costa Rican's shot was blocked by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
Newcastle finished the half on the back foot but they were within inches of scoring the opener after the restart. Anita's 25-yard strike took a wicked deflection off Fulham sub Emmanuel Frimpong and looped on to the bar.
Newcastle were furious when Marveaux's corner was met by Gouffran, whose header hit Sascha Riether's upper arm and then the post.
Ref Kevin Friend was unmoved as he then watched Cisse smash the rebound against the woodwork with the goal at his mercy.
If Newcastle felt hard done by, their misery was nearly compounded when Berbatov's header from John Arne Riise's free-kick was brilliantly tipped over by Krul.
NEWCASTLE: Krul 7, Simpson 6 (Campbell 5), Yanga-Mbiwa 6, Taylor 7, Santon 5 (Anita 6), Marveaux 8, Cabaye 7, Sissoko 6, Gutierrez 7, Cisse 7, Gouffran 6 (Ameobi 5). Subs not used: Elliot, Williamson, Bigirimana, Obertan. Booked: Gutierrez, Sissoko.
FULHAM: Schwarzer 7, Riether 7, Hangeland 7, Senderos 6, Riise 6, Manolev 6 (Rodallega 5), Karagounis 6, Enoh 6 (Frimpong 6), Duff 5, Ruiz 6, Berbatov 6. Subs not used: Etheridge, Richardson, Hughes, Frei, Emanuelson. Booked: Riise, Senderos.
More Info: [Live Football] CODM Meknes - Difaa Hassani Jdidi - GNF 1 Morocco
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