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Shola Ameobi’s 15th goal in European competition proved to be the decisive factor as Newcastle took care of Metalist Kharkiv in the round of 32 tie of the UEFA Europa league. The goal came courtesy of a penalty awarded to the away side on 64 minutes after Moussa Sissoko was bundled over by Metalist keeper Olexandr Goryainov inside the box.
Metalist created several opportunities late in the game but the brilliant performance of Dutch international Tim Krul saw to it that the Magpies come out their European tie unscathed.
Metalist coach Myron Markevych named an unchanged side from the previous game against the Toon in which the Ukrainians looked comfortable passing the ball around crisply. Alan Pardew, on the other hand, rang in the changes. Massadio Haidara was given his first full debut in Newcastle colours while the likes of Vurnon Anita, Danny Simpson, Sylvain Marveaux and Shola Ameobi made starts for the away team.
The away side were off the blocks as the midfield trio of Yohan Cabaye, Vurnon Anita and Moussa Sissoko looked comfortable playing the ball around. The first real opening came on 16 minutes as Sissoko’s accelerated from the right wing an cut back on to his left, cutting through the defence like a knife through butter. But his left foot didn’t quite have the same venom as his right does as his shot on goal trickled into the arms of Goryainov.
Metalist looked clueless as to what their roles in their tie was. They were comfortable playing the game on the counter attack at St. James’ Park but the goalless draw left them in a precarious position. They seemed indecisive, apparently afraid of conceding the crucial away goal and whether they should go on the attack, being on their home turf, or sit back and hit on the counter which had yielded them so much success in the first leg.
It took the home side 28 minutes to get their first attempt on goal as Jonatan Cristaldo’s header flew just wide of the far post, though Krul seemed to have had a measure of it. After that instant, Metalist seemed to grow into the game, especially from the right, as their right back Cristian Villagra teamed up with the dangerous Marlos to put debutante Haidara under pressure.
The final goal mouth action came again courtesy of a bolstering run from Sissoko. The French international brushed off Edmar and cut back from the right again and laid it off to Shola Ameobi, who found an on rushing Cisse, who was unable to curl the shot from the outside of his boot and hit it straight at the keeper.
The game in the second half seemed to have had hit a gag as neither side created much opportunity. Newcastle came to life at about the hour mark when Sylvain Marveaux pounced in from the left on to the goal. The Frenchman had Ameobi and Sissoko waiting eagerly on the far post but instead of hitting it across goal, the Frenchman blasted and wide and it seemed Newcastle’s best chance had gone begging.
Goryainov brings down Sissoko inside the penalty area
But the goal that the game so vitally needed came when Papa Gueye misplaced a pass to his keeper Goryainov. Sissoko gave a chase and a second Metalist player made a blunder within a minute, as Goryainov bundled over Sissoko when it seemed that the Frenchman had nowhere to go. Shola Ameobi, who has never missed a penalty in any competitive game in his career, stepped up to oblige, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Metalist suddenly found themselves in need of two goals after lacking any threat on goal whatsoever for the entire game. They gave it their all but whenever they found a way through the backline of Newcastle, the colossal figure of Tim Krul was there to thwart all efforts.
Substitute Willian, and then a double effort from Cristaldo, threatened the Newcastle goal but the Dutch keeper was on hand to produce some brilliant one on one and reflex saves. The visitors held out for 5 added minutes at the end of the game as the home side swung in balls from all directions.
The victory meant that Newcastle came away with an aggregate 1-0 win over the Ukrainian side and now look forward to a clash with Anzhi Makhachkala in the round of 16 stage.
