Del Piero double dashes Magpies' hopes

Juventus 2

With this win, Juventus move to the brink of qualification for the next stage of the Champions League.

Del Piero was the difference between the two sides, driving home a 66th-minute free-kick to finally break United's stubborn resistance and then adding a second nine minutes from time to deny Sir Bobby Robson's side an opening point despite a brave battle. The visitors started brightly and were first to staged a meaningful attack when Dyer went straight down the right and crossed for Shearer, whose shot was blocked by Lilian Thuram's diving challenge.

Edgar Davids had to head the resulting Laurent Robert corner away at the near post, but United keeper Shay Given had his first scare with four minutes gone when striker Marco Di Vaio headed Nedved's cross wide.

Then, it took a superb interception by Dabizas to prevent Di Vaio from reaching Thuram's low cross in front of goal with 12 minutes gone.

The Juve striker's evening came to an unpleasant and worrying end seconds later after he clashed heads with O'Brien and, after lengthy delay, was stretched to awaiting ambulance at the side of the pitch.

The Italian champions were building the pressure over time, and although Robson's side were able to soak up much of it, they found themselves at full stretch at times.

The with 22 minutes Del Piero showed just why he is rated so highly in the world game when he picked up the ball wide on the left before cutting inside to unleash a swerving 25-yard drive which evaded Given's athletic dive but cannoned back off the crossbar, much to the relief of the travelling supporters.

After the break Newcastle were continuing to cause their hosts problems on the break and it took a good tackle from Paolo Montero deep inside his own penalty area to prevent Shearer from reaching a 56th-minute Robert cross at the far post.

However, United found themselves in the firing line when Dabizas was booked for a foul on Del Piero inches outside the box, and the striker picked himself up to smash an unstoppable 66th-minute free-kick into the top corner.

Robson made his last throw of the dice with 11 minutes remaining when he sent on strikers Shola Ameobi and Lomana LuaLua in place of Griffin and Jenas, but Del Piero needed just two more minutes to wrap up victory.

Davids crossed from the left and Trezeguet dummied to allow his captain to drill a shot past Given and into the net to kill off Newcastle's hopes of a late comeback.

JUVENTUS: Buffon, Montero, Thuram, Tudor, Iuliano, Moretti, Nedved, Davids, Baiocco, Di Vaio, Del Piero.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Griffin, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Jenas, Dyer, Solano, Robert, Speed, Shearer.

Referee: Rene Temmink (Holland)