Toon-Army.net's
Top 3 Memorable Games, in ascending Order.
3. Newcastle United 3 - 2 Barcelona
It was billed as the biggest game in Newcastle United's history
- but it became one of the greatest victories St James' Park
has probably ever seen. Barcelona had a reputation second to
none when they arrived on Tyneside for Newcastle United's first
ever UEFA Champions' League game.
If Faustino Asprilla is remembered for nothing else but this
particular match, this will be enough for any Newcastle fan.
It couldn't have been dreamt up of what happened.
After a first half Penalty which was neatly slotted home by
Tino to make it 1-0 things suddenly looked like a huge upset
was on the cards. To which it was. After another 2 pin perfect
crosses by Keith Gillespie out on the right wings which seen
Tino Asprilla look like he was floating on air waiting for the
ball to come right to his head seen Newcastle 3-0 up against
Barcelona! After 2 consolation goals for Barcelona towards the
end to keep every fans nails in the stadium and around the world
to a minimum the final whistle blew to see Newcastle United
record their first ever Champions League game with a 3-2 win
over the mighty Barcelona.
2. Newcastle United 5 - 0 Manchester United
This game was nothing but revenge for Newcastle United. After
being humiliated 4 - 0 at Wembley in the FA Charity Shield the
record was there to be set straight. Live on Sky Sports, Manchester
United were there to be made a mockery of in front of the whole
country, to which they were.
Newcastle got the important opening goal in the 12th minute.
During a goal-mouth scramble Darren Peacock headed the ball
towards the Manchester United goal-line but it appeared to have
been cleared. The officials awarded the goal as the whole ball
had just sneaked over the line, much to the dismay of that moaning
jock, Alex Ferguson. The Sky television replays afterwards indicated
that the referee couldnt have been more correct in awarding
the goal.
There was no doubt about Newcastle's second goal. When David
Ginola received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of
the visitor's box he turned sharply and shot the ball which
flew over Peter Schmeichel's head and into the back of the net.
The second half started as the first half finished. Alan Shearer
destroyed the Red's defence in a run down the right hand wing,
and his marvellous cross was met by Les Ferdinand, who powered
a header off the underside of the bar, onto the right hand side
of the post and into the net.
No trouncing of Manchester United was complete without Alan
Shearer being on the scoresheet. After a briliant dribble and
shot by Peter Beardsley which was saved, Les Ferdinand had his
shot saved by Schmeichel as well, only for the ball to drop
right in front of Alan Shearer to smash into the back of the
net.
Newcastle's scintillating display was capped with a glorious
fifth goal from Philippe Albert in 83rd minute. Following nice
possession interplay, Albert collected the ball deep, took a
few strides forward before cooly chipping a briliant 25-yard
shot over Peter Schemichel who was completely rooted to the
spot.
1. Feyenoord 2 - 3 Newcastle United
As brilliant as Howay 5-0 was, this game just nicks top spot
because of the importance of it. We werent the only team that
had to win for us to proceed through to the second phase of
the Champions League that night, we were also relying on Juventus,
who hadn't won away in the Champions League for 2 years, and
who were already through to the second phase, to pull of a draw
or a win in the Ukraine against Kiev.
Goals from Craig Bellamy and Hugo Viana looked like Newcastle
had done their side of the work, and relying on Juventus getting
any sort of a result in Kiev was the only thing to do from then
on. Far from it. With Feyenoord piling on the pressure as soon
as we had scored our second goal it was a certainty that they
would claw their way back into it. Which they did. It was 2
- 2 with 20 minutes left.
At that stage there were 2 scenarios that could happen. We could
go for the decisive third and win it, or we could sit back and
hope Juve win in the Ukraine so we finish third in the group
and go into the UEFA cup. There was even the chance that Feyenoord
could get the third goal and Kiev ended up winning against Juve....leaving
us with....nowt.
With Feyenoord pushing for a third there was only one team that
was going to win it, and it wasn't going to be us....that is,
until the 91st minute. After a free kick by Dabizas is pumped
upfield and theres a flick on by Shearer, a pull down by Dyer,
a dummy past a defender and a shot could this be 3 - 2 to Newcastle?....The
keeper pulls of a brilliant save...Craig Bellamy runs in and....SCORES
from an impossible angle. Bellamy managed to somehow get his
shot on target, for the keeper to push the ball into the net
and Newcastle United to win the game 3 - 2....BUT....did Juve
do the toon a favour and manage any sort of result? After a
few anxious minutes the result comes back to Feyenoord to an
ecstatic Newcastle United. Juve managed to win the match 2 -
1 to send Newcastle through to the second phase of the champions
League.
Definetly the most unforgettable night in Newcastle Uniteds
history.
