Post by Taxigirl on Apr 8, 2005 7:32:09 GMT
skysports.planetfootball.com
by Paul Higham
Alan Shearer was once again the Newcastle hero as he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Sporting in their Uefa Cup quarter final.
The Portuguese visitors played the better football throughout the match, but their slack passing moves had no end product, and The Magpies were by far the more threatening of the two sides.
Shearer netted his 30th European goal on 37 minutes when he was given too much time inside the box to plant home a free header from Laurent Robert's free kick.
Graeme Souness was urging his side forward to get a second, but they had to settle for 1-0 in the end, although a win will have lifted spirits on Tyneside after an appalling week for the club.
A feisty start at St James' Park was halted when Shola
Ameobi caught Sporting goalkeeper Ricardo in the face when sliding in for the ball - causing a four minute delay.
Ricardo was nowhere to be seen when Robert whipped in one of his trademark corners from the right, with the ball striking the near post.
The passing from the visitors was slick and accurate, but it was often just the final pass or shot that let them down.
Shearer headed in from a Robert free kick on 32 minutes, although the goal was chalked off as referee Yuri Baskakov was not ready.
Sporting did not learn their lesson from that scare however, as barely five minutes later Newcastle where ahead with an almost identical free kick.
Robert's whipped-in effort from the left found Shearer in acres of space and he had no problems in planting his free header past Ricardo for his 30th European goal.
Jose Peseiro's side perked up again in the closing stages of the half, again producing some cultured passing moves, with Rui Jorge firing a shot inches wide of Shay Given's right hand post.
In was the last Given would see of the action, as a recurrence of his niggling hip problem saw Steve Harper come on to replace him at half time.
Harper was soon scrambling as Carlons Martins flashed a shot narrowly wide of his post, but Harper did make contact with Joao Moutinho's shot, making a flying save to turn the ball round the post.
Lee Bowyer came on after an hour, ironically to replace Kieron Dyer, and the controversial midfielder was given a rousing reception by a home crowd who seemingly had already forgiven him for Saturday's shocking events.
Substitute James Milner had a great chance to double the advantage, but he blazed over after charging through on goal.
Newcastle survived a few late nervy moments but kept a clean sheet and travel to Lisbon next week with a narrow victory, but without a crucial away goal against them.
The tie is now on a knife edge, although a Newcastle goal in the Jose Alvalade will put them in control of the encounter.
by Paul Higham
Alan Shearer was once again the Newcastle hero as he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Sporting in their Uefa Cup quarter final.
The Portuguese visitors played the better football throughout the match, but their slack passing moves had no end product, and The Magpies were by far the more threatening of the two sides.
Shearer netted his 30th European goal on 37 minutes when he was given too much time inside the box to plant home a free header from Laurent Robert's free kick.
Graeme Souness was urging his side forward to get a second, but they had to settle for 1-0 in the end, although a win will have lifted spirits on Tyneside after an appalling week for the club.
A feisty start at St James' Park was halted when Shola
Ameobi caught Sporting goalkeeper Ricardo in the face when sliding in for the ball - causing a four minute delay.
Ricardo was nowhere to be seen when Robert whipped in one of his trademark corners from the right, with the ball striking the near post.
The passing from the visitors was slick and accurate, but it was often just the final pass or shot that let them down.
Shearer headed in from a Robert free kick on 32 minutes, although the goal was chalked off as referee Yuri Baskakov was not ready.
Sporting did not learn their lesson from that scare however, as barely five minutes later Newcastle where ahead with an almost identical free kick.
Robert's whipped-in effort from the left found Shearer in acres of space and he had no problems in planting his free header past Ricardo for his 30th European goal.
Jose Peseiro's side perked up again in the closing stages of the half, again producing some cultured passing moves, with Rui Jorge firing a shot inches wide of Shay Given's right hand post.
In was the last Given would see of the action, as a recurrence of his niggling hip problem saw Steve Harper come on to replace him at half time.
Harper was soon scrambling as Carlons Martins flashed a shot narrowly wide of his post, but Harper did make contact with Joao Moutinho's shot, making a flying save to turn the ball round the post.
Lee Bowyer came on after an hour, ironically to replace Kieron Dyer, and the controversial midfielder was given a rousing reception by a home crowd who seemingly had already forgiven him for Saturday's shocking events.
Substitute James Milner had a great chance to double the advantage, but he blazed over after charging through on goal.
Newcastle survived a few late nervy moments but kept a clean sheet and travel to Lisbon next week with a narrow victory, but without a crucial away goal against them.
The tie is now on a knife edge, although a Newcastle goal in the Jose Alvalade will put them in control of the encounter.