Newcastle (2) 1 – 2 (4) Deportivo

By Nick Raynor
August 4 2005

Newcastle United have crashed out of Europe after a 2-1 defeat to Deportivo at St. James Park.

Newcastle went out 4-2 on aggregate but made a good start by taking the lead, but a combination of unluckiness and defensive errors led to Newcastle having no European football this season.

 

Neither side had any chances in the first 10 minutes, but Newcastle looked very lively with new midfielders Parker and Emre both playing well.

 

The fans continued to get behind Newcastle, and after 16 minutes, Emre nearly put Newcastle in the lead from 25 yards after being fed a ball by Shearer but the Deportivo goalkeeper made a good save.

 

Parker got booked on his debut after a lunging tackle after 29 minutes and the resulting freekick from the right hand side was beautifully blocked by Robbie Elliot, who managed to just get a foot ahead of the defender, and Steven Taylor, who has having a great game, headed clear.

 

Newcastle were lucky not to concede from the resulting corner on 30 minutes, as Capdevila but it over at the near post from just 3 yards.

 

It was Newcastle’s turn to nearly score on 33 minutes, as Shearer headed beautifully from Milner’s free-kick from the left but Molina made a tip save at the post.

 

It all kicked off from the resulting corner. Shearer came in for a big header, and inadvertently punched the goalkeeper in the face. A lot of pushing and shoving ensured with Shearer and Diego Tristan getting bookings.

 

The 2 coaches were also arguing, which led to the Deportivo coach getting squirted with water from the stands.

 

On 37 minutes, after some route 1 football from Shay Given, Milner has a 50/50 bouncing ball against a defender which he won, but there was lack of support with him as the squared it across the box.

 

The deadlock was broken a minute later as Stephen Carr worked it well down the right and then passed to Amdy Faye, who made a poor cross which still managed to reach Lee Bowyer. Bowyer shot and Milner knocked it in to give Newcastle a 1-0 lead.

 

5 minutes later, Steven Taylor was booked after purposely shoulder barging the goalkeeper, Molina, who comically fell to the ground.

 

Newcastle were heartbroken on the stroke of half time when a ball was headed on and bounced in the box. Andrade had beaten Steven Taylor, and Given didn’t come out fast enough to claim it, and had to watch agonisingly as Andrade lobbed him to give Deportivo a 3-2 lead on aggregate.

 

Half-time came with a bit more pushing and shoving, and disaster and goodbye to European dreams struck for Newcastle just 1 minute into the restart.

 

Robbie Elliot weighted his back-pass all wrong which left a race for the ball in between Pedro Munitis and Shay Given, which Munitis won. Carr made every effort to stop Deportivo scoring in an open net, but by now it was 2 on 1, so he could only make the one tackle, and Munitis slotted home the easiest goal he’ll ever score which effectively ended Newcastle’s hopes of European football as they now needed 3 goals to go through.

 

Newcastle battled on though, and on 50 minutes, Shearer had his low, powerful freekick well blocked by the goalkeeper.

 

Souness decided Newcastle needed more firepower, but the lack of attacking options showed when more firepower came in the form of Ameobi, who had only had 1 full day of training prior to his appearance. He replaced midfielder Amdy Faye.

 

A chance was wasted on 56 minutes when Milner was brought down on the left wing, but Emre’s freekick didn’t beat the first man which summed up Newcastle’s night. They could just not get the ball in the net again.

 

This theory was proven on 60 minutes when Bowyer played a beautiful cross-field ball to Milner on the left, who crossed to an unmarked Shearer at the far post, but the ex-England captain got his foot under the ball and volleyed over from 6 yards out.

 

Newcastle had half an hour to get 3 goals, and they battled on, as a minute later, Shearer put a low cross along the box but a slight deflection stopped it falling right into Ameobi’s path.

 

With 20 minutes left to go, Ameobi nearly gave Newcastle home as he received the ball in the box, 8 yards out, controlled on his chest, took a touch, turned and fired but the goalkeeper made a great save with the ball nearly rolling along the line, but no-one in black and white could get there to stab it in.

 

Ameobi had another chance a minute later, when the goalkeeper came to claim a corner, missed and Ameobi picked it up but fired wide.

 

N’Zogbia was thrown on for Milner but it was all in vain for Newcastle, as neither team managed to make any real chance in the final 20 minutes.

 

FINAL SCORE: 1-2 (2-4 agg.)

 

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