SC Heerenveen 1-2 Newcastle United |
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Date:
Thursday 17th February 2005
Kick Off: 7.45pm GMT
Venue: Abe Lenstra Stadium
Att: 19,500
Ref: Zsolt Szabo
Comp: UEFA Cup 3rd Round |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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Superb Second-Half As Magpies Steal Precious Victory
In Holland
By
Gaz Pearson
There is no more perfectly astute phrase in football than 'a game
of two halves'. A superb second half Newcastle comeback seemed increasingly
unlikely following a fine first half performance from Heerenveen.
It was Super Al who spearheaded the Newcastle fight-back but credit
must also go to Greame Souness who showed a lot of tactical guts to
change formation from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 early in the second period.
It was Hereenveen who drew first blood in a thoroughly entertaining
night in Holland. A poor mistake from Titus Bramble, who should have
simply cleared the ball into touch from inside his own box, led to
a fantastic turn and strike by the impressive Huntelaar (24 mins).
The 21 year-old Dutchman looked nothing short of sensational as he
terrorised the edgy Toon defence. He could have added to his opener
within minutes but directed a free header straight into Given's grateful
arms. Newcastle faded badly and only a Lee Bowyer effort that was
well wide was all the Magpies could muster in a forgettable first
half from the Toon.
As Souness looked to rectify the on-field problems his headache went
from bad to worse as the injured Celestine Babayaro had to be replaced
by Aaron Hughes early in the second half. Souness must have been feeling
the pressure and it must have been crushing him when sections of his
own fans starting getting on his back. However, Souness was to rise
to the challenge.
He replaced Shola Ameobi with Laurent Robert and reverted to a 4-4-2
formation. The change was remarkable! Laurent Robert, a peripheral
figure often found on the bench proved his quality and was involved
in both the Newcastle goals. Robert sent a neat pass into Kluivert
who in turn slid the ball to Shearer who cooly sent the ball in the
bottom right hand corner from just inside the box (69 mins). Indeed,
Kluivert who was largely anonymous in the first half looked a much
more competent player when he played up front with Shearer.
Newcastle's fight-back was complete when a sublime 30 yard ball cross
field from Robert spread the play and resulted in a terrific Stephan
Carr cross which was cleverly back healed into the Heerenveen net
by Lee Bowyer (82mins). Heerenveen 1 Newcastle United 2. A terrific
second half for the Magpies was the marred when Bowyer went from hero
to zero in the space of three minutes as he picked up his second yellow
card for stupidly handling the ball (86 mins). Heerenveen tried in
vain to muster an equaliser and almost found it when Bramble again
made a calamitous error that produced a stunning save from Shay Given.
The match ended not with boos but with cheers, music to Souness's
ears, me thinks?
Verdict:
A terrific second half performance due mainly to the tactical switch
and the introduction of Robert down the left. All in all a good result
and two away goals. We have to be strong favourites in the return
leg at St. James's but I have a feeling Heerenveen wont make it easy.
Toon Player Ratings:
Given: 7. An amazing save from a Bramble mistake
kept us 2-1 up.
Carr: 7. Steady and got forward well.
O'Brien: 7. Solid at the back.
Bramble: 5. Never looked comfortable and made two
awful mistakes.
Babayaro: 6. Did OK before getting injured.
Faye: 7. Good second half. Broke up a lot of Heerenveen
attacks.
Bowyer: 6. Clever with his goal. Stupid in his sending
off.
Jenas: 7. Covered a lot of ground.
Kluivert: 7. Poor first half. Much improved second
half. Played a part in both goals.
Shearer: 9. Superb as usual. Enough said.
Ameobi: 6. Never really got into the game.
Subs:
Hughes: 7. Did very well covering for Babayaro.
Robert: 8. His skill and vision changed the game
for Newcastle.
Taylor: 6. Old head on young shoulders in the final
minutes.
Manager:
Souness. 8. Responded well to jeers of the fans and
tactically spot in the second half. Let's forget the first period,
I am sure he has.
More...
In
Depth Toon Player Analyis Vs Heerenveen
A Heerenveen Fans' Take On NUFC, Toon Fans, The Match & PK
Following
NUFC In Europe: SC Heerenveen Trip (With Photos)
| Heerenveen
4-3-3 |
Newcastle
3-3-1-2 |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 1-0
Full-Time: 2-1
Yellow Cards: 4
Red Cards: 1
Goalscorers: Huntelaar (24)
Yellow Cards: Hansson (10)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Samaras (Huntelaar 78), Sikora (Bruggink 79), Rose
(Prager 89)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: Shearer
(69), Bowyer (82)
Yellow Cards: Bowyer (31), Ameobi (61), Jenas (90
Red Cards: Bowyer (86 two yellows)
Substitutions: 3
Hughes (Babayaro 52), Robert (Ameobi 62), Taylor (Boumsong 89)
Injuries: Babayaro - Knock to the knee |
| Vandenbussche |
Given |
| Breuer |
Carr |
| Bakkati |
O'Brien |
| Hansson |
Bramble |
| Rzasa |
Babayaro |
| Yildrim |
Bowyer |
| Hestad |
Faye |
| Vayrynen |
Jenas |
| Prager |
Kluivert |
| Huntelaar |
Shearer |
| Bruggink |
Ameobi |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Waterman |
Caig |
| Wolfgang |
Hughes |
| Sikora |
Taylor |
|
Samaras |
N'Zogbia |
| Haarala |
Milner |
| Drost |
Ambrose |
| Rose |
Robert |
A European Toon debut for both Faye and Babayaro. Only our 2nd red
card of the season - both coming in the UEFA Cup.
| How The Goals Were
Scored |
Heerenveen Goal 24 Minutes: Jan-Klass Huntelaar
Bramble failed to clear a ball into the box, allowing Yildrim to rob
him, cut it back for Huntelaar who rolled Faye and struck a powerful
drive with his left-foot high into the roof of Shay's net - a fantastic
goal.
Newcastle Goal 69 Minutes: Alan Shearer
Robert slipped the ball through to Kluivert who controlled, turned
and slided it into the path of Shearer who cut inside on his right,
evaded a desperate lunge and drove a powerful low hard shot through
the centre of the goal leaving Heerenveen's keeper no chance. Typical
Big Al goal.
Newcastle Goal 82 Minutes: Lee Bowyer
Robert clipped a 40-yard cross field ball to Kluivert in the box who
controlled instantly, held it up and rolled it to Carr who sent in
a wicked cross that took a deflection off the Dutchman as it went
through to Bowyer who cheekily back heeled it into the back of the
net from a few yards. An excellently worked goal.
| Match Reaction From
Graeme Souness |
Souness said:
"I'm satisfied with the result.
"I never thought we'd lose the game, and at the end of the day we
didn't so we have to be happy.
"It was a difficult game for us. The conditions weren't ideal, and
the pitch was very bumpy and difficult to play on.
"I wasn't happy with the goal we conceded, it wasn't good play from
us and they punished us.
"But credit to the lads for staying together. They put the work in
and kept going, and we got the rewards.
"We can't ask for any more than a win away from home, and the tie
is now set up nicely for us to finish the job off in the return game
at our place.
"We'll enjoy a glass of wine now, then get focused on Chelsea on Sunday
because that is another very important match for us.
"This victory in Holland will mean we will go into the game full of
confidence and on a high."
| Match Reaction
From Gertjan Verbeek |
Verbeek said:
"I'm
disappointed not only for my players, but also for myself and the
supporters.
"We did our best and it was not enough to beat Newcastle.
"We were a little bit unlucky, but they are a very good team
and in the return, we will try our best and make them work very hard
to go a round further.
"I'm disappointed, but I'm proud of my players." |
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