bad_meetz_evil
11-03-2006, 08:34 AM
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Albert Luque scored just his third ever goal for Newcastle as The Magpies secured a fantastic 1-0 win over Palermo in Sicily to take control of Group H.
Glenn Roeder's side came into the game off the back of a worrying Premiership slump, and with a number of high profile absentees, but the forgotten man of Tyneside popped up with a first half header to defeat the joint Serie A leaders.
Whilst Luque provided a cutting edge in front of goal, the fact that Newcastle maintained their 100 percent record in the Uefa Cup was largely down to teenage keeper Tim Krul as the debutant took full advantage of injuries to Shay Given and Steve Harper to produce a string of outstanding saves as a weakened Magpies side earned an outstanding, if somewhat fortuitous, victory that could galvanise their season.
The Sicilians looked like a team bang in form in the opening five minutes as they threatened to tear The Magpies apart, with debut keeper Krul finding himself under hefty pressure after stepping in for the injured Harper.
The young Dutchman was denied the chance to make his first save for the North East outfit when Steven Taylor's outstretched boot blocked a shot from Gianni Munari after just two minutes, and defensive partner Craig Moore also had to be alert when he got in the way of Franco Brienza's clipped effort from the right two minutes later.
With Marco Pisano then fizzing a shot just over the bar before Brienza attempted to chip Krul from 40 yards after a poor clearance from the keeper, it seemed as though The Rosanero were ready to dish out a superior victory to the 3-0 win at La Favorita that dumped West Ham out of the competition in the first round.
However an under-strength Newcastle side responded well and it was midfielder James Milner who led the fightback as he drove across the face of goal before having his shot blocked by Pablo Dellafiore.
The former Leeds man went closer still at the end of a breathless opening ten minutes when he caught Mattia Cassani in possession and spun expertly inside the box. However he was then denied on two counts as Alberto Fontana parried his effort and referee Jaroslav Jara denied his claims for a penalty after being pulled to ground in the process of getting his shot away.
Reputed Liverpool target Andrea Caracciolo was close to giving the Italians the lead when he raced onto Nicky Butt's weak header back and poked the ball past the onrushing Krul, but Moore was on hand to clear again as Newcastle settled into their stride.
After slowing the hosts' early tempo, The Magpies found themselves in front after 37 minutes thanks to the elusive Luque, but it was Milner who drew the plaudits after some superb build-up play.
The 20-year-old skipped past Cassani on the left wing and delivered an inch perfect, rasping cross that Luque only had to nod past Fontana from six yards for an impressive 1-0 lead that The Magpies took into half time.
No doubt aware of the potential damage of a home defeat in what is a hotly contested group, Francesco Guidolin's side emerged with a renewed vigour and Caracciolo underlined his danger by firing just over the bar from a tight angle.
Giovanni Tedesco went even closer on 52 minutes after giving Nolberto Solano the slip at the back post as a free-kick went through a sea of players, however his header could only brush against the side netting in a let-off for The Magpies.
Munari also headed wide from a Cassani cross as The Rosanero upped the ante, but as the Italians improved so did the young Krul, with the rookie shot stopper making a succession of outstanding stops.
After Guidolin threw on two attackers in Fabio Simplicio and David Di Michele on 65 minutes, Palermo swung in a free-kick from the left and Krul produced a world class stop to tip Giuseppe Bavia's header away with his palm before springing up to deny Di Michele's follow-up effort.
The former ADO Den Haag teenager then rushed out quickly to get a leg to Caracciolo's shot after the striker broke clear in the box, and Krul was also equal to another effort from the talented front man after a quick set-piece on 75 minutes.
As Newcastle's attacking input became non-existent it was clearly a question of whether Palermo would beat Krul on what was fast becoming an outstanding debut for the Dutchman, but Simplicio could only curl another chance wide of the upright.
With three minutes to go Brienza collected a fine backheel from Di Michele in the box and worked some space, but Krul dived to collect his prodded effort to ensure he would end the night with a well-deserved clean sheet, and with it the credit for a tremendous result for the travelling Tynesiders.
Roeder even had a chance to make Andrew Carroll Newcastle's youngest ever player in European competition at the age of 17, but the only statistic that truly mattered was the three points that Newcastle collected with their first win on Italian soil.
Sky.
Albert Luque scored just his third ever goal for Newcastle as The Magpies secured a fantastic 1-0 win over Palermo in Sicily to take control of Group H.
Glenn Roeder's side came into the game off the back of a worrying Premiership slump, and with a number of high profile absentees, but the forgotten man of Tyneside popped up with a first half header to defeat the joint Serie A leaders.
Whilst Luque provided a cutting edge in front of goal, the fact that Newcastle maintained their 100 percent record in the Uefa Cup was largely down to teenage keeper Tim Krul as the debutant took full advantage of injuries to Shay Given and Steve Harper to produce a string of outstanding saves as a weakened Magpies side earned an outstanding, if somewhat fortuitous, victory that could galvanise their season.
The Sicilians looked like a team bang in form in the opening five minutes as they threatened to tear The Magpies apart, with debut keeper Krul finding himself under hefty pressure after stepping in for the injured Harper.
The young Dutchman was denied the chance to make his first save for the North East outfit when Steven Taylor's outstretched boot blocked a shot from Gianni Munari after just two minutes, and defensive partner Craig Moore also had to be alert when he got in the way of Franco Brienza's clipped effort from the right two minutes later.
With Marco Pisano then fizzing a shot just over the bar before Brienza attempted to chip Krul from 40 yards after a poor clearance from the keeper, it seemed as though The Rosanero were ready to dish out a superior victory to the 3-0 win at La Favorita that dumped West Ham out of the competition in the first round.
However an under-strength Newcastle side responded well and it was midfielder James Milner who led the fightback as he drove across the face of goal before having his shot blocked by Pablo Dellafiore.
The former Leeds man went closer still at the end of a breathless opening ten minutes when he caught Mattia Cassani in possession and spun expertly inside the box. However he was then denied on two counts as Alberto Fontana parried his effort and referee Jaroslav Jara denied his claims for a penalty after being pulled to ground in the process of getting his shot away.
Reputed Liverpool target Andrea Caracciolo was close to giving the Italians the lead when he raced onto Nicky Butt's weak header back and poked the ball past the onrushing Krul, but Moore was on hand to clear again as Newcastle settled into their stride.
After slowing the hosts' early tempo, The Magpies found themselves in front after 37 minutes thanks to the elusive Luque, but it was Milner who drew the plaudits after some superb build-up play.
The 20-year-old skipped past Cassani on the left wing and delivered an inch perfect, rasping cross that Luque only had to nod past Fontana from six yards for an impressive 1-0 lead that The Magpies took into half time.
No doubt aware of the potential damage of a home defeat in what is a hotly contested group, Francesco Guidolin's side emerged with a renewed vigour and Caracciolo underlined his danger by firing just over the bar from a tight angle.
Giovanni Tedesco went even closer on 52 minutes after giving Nolberto Solano the slip at the back post as a free-kick went through a sea of players, however his header could only brush against the side netting in a let-off for The Magpies.
Munari also headed wide from a Cassani cross as The Rosanero upped the ante, but as the Italians improved so did the young Krul, with the rookie shot stopper making a succession of outstanding stops.
After Guidolin threw on two attackers in Fabio Simplicio and David Di Michele on 65 minutes, Palermo swung in a free-kick from the left and Krul produced a world class stop to tip Giuseppe Bavia's header away with his palm before springing up to deny Di Michele's follow-up effort.
The former ADO Den Haag teenager then rushed out quickly to get a leg to Caracciolo's shot after the striker broke clear in the box, and Krul was also equal to another effort from the talented front man after a quick set-piece on 75 minutes.
As Newcastle's attacking input became non-existent it was clearly a question of whether Palermo would beat Krul on what was fast becoming an outstanding debut for the Dutchman, but Simplicio could only curl another chance wide of the upright.
With three minutes to go Brienza collected a fine backheel from Di Michele in the box and worked some space, but Krul dived to collect his prodded effort to ensure he would end the night with a well-deserved clean sheet, and with it the credit for a tremendous result for the travelling Tynesiders.
Roeder even had a chance to make Andrew Carroll Newcastle's youngest ever player in European competition at the age of 17, but the only statistic that truly mattered was the three points that Newcastle collected with their first win on Italian soil.
Sky.