MAGPIES QUALIFY FOR SECOND STAGE

By Peter Donnelly
November 14 2002

In an amazing game, Newcastle United beat Feyenoord in Rotterdam 3-2 to reach the second phase of the UEFA Champions League. Craig Bellamy grabbed two goals on his return, one in the 90th minute to steal the points.

The first half was pretty much dominated by the Toon, as the team was excellently organised and very compact as a unit. Feyenoord struggled to break us down as a result of this.

When we did go foward we done it well, looking a big threat. The first real chance came to Bellamy inside 30 minutes, but his match sharpness lacked and he missed the chance.

However, right on half time we got the break-through when Given kicked the ball up to Shearer, whose flick on found Bellamy and the Welshman finished well from a tight angle.

The second half started just as good as how the first ended. Two minutes in and Kieron Dyer's excellent closing down gave him the chance to set up Hugo Viana. When it came to his left foot he lashed home Newcastle's second and the game looked over.

But Feyenoord came back into it and once they got their first goal our shape simply went and they capatilised yet again, scoring another. After such good work we might aswell have been losing.

The home side continued to press and Bosvelt had a good chance from the egde of the box. However, he shot wide.

Juvents were doing Newcastle a favour in Kiev, as the 1-1 then 2-1 score to Juve came through, meaning that game looked beyond Dynamo.

The Magpies eventually got a bit of possesion though and in the 90th minute Dyer showed some good skill to get past their defender, with only the keeper to beat. His shot was saved, but Bellamy was on hand to hit home off the keeper.

This sparked wild celebrations and after strong Shearer hold-up play the ref blew for full-time. With Juve beating Dynamo Newcastle had created Champions League history: the first team to ever lose their first 3 matches in Group Stage 1 yet to still qualify.