Ameobi fires Magpies ahead in five-goal thriller

Basle 2 Newcastle 3

The England Under-21 international, who had earlier missed a good opportunity to get his name on to the scoresheet, left defender Marco Zwyssig for dead on 75 minutes to shoot past ‘keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler and hand the Magpies a deserved first leg victory over the runaway leaders of the Swiss league.

But the visitors twice had to come from behind in a whirlwind first half which saw Christian Gross’ men fly out of the blocks.

Mario Cantaluppi opened the scoring with an 11th-minute missile, and after Laurent Robert had levelled within two minutes, the hugely impressive Scott Chipperfield restored their advantage as the United defence wilted.

Titus Bramble handed his side a lifeline eight minutes before the break, and then set the scene for a much-improved display with the former Ipswich defender, in particular, standing up to be counted.

There were a few more scares along the way, although Sir Bobby Robson’s men might have won it more comfortably, but they will happily settle for the first leg advantage Ameobi claimed for them.

Newcastle will feel they have edged a step closer to the third round with the home leg to come in three weeks’ time, although no-one at St James’ Park will need reminding that they returned from Partizan Belgrade with a 1-0 lead in their Champions League qualifier and eventually went out of the competition on penalties.

It was Cantaluppi who scored with just 11 minutes gone when he latched on to a weak clearance by Jermaine Jenas and hammered an unstoppable drive past Shay Given.

The Irishman was beaten for a second time four minutes later when the unfortunate Jenas saw Chipperfield’s goal-bound shot clip his legs and evade the keeper’s grasp.

But just as United’s defenders were suffering in Switzerland, so too were their opposite numbers and Robert had already cancelled out Cantaluppi’s effort by the time Chipperfield struck.

It was Ameobi’s perfectly weighted pass which put the Frenchman in on goal, but his early shot caught out ‘keeper Zuberbuhler, who could only watch as the ball slipped inside his far post. But as the visitors regained their composure, they started to gain a foothold , and their resilience was rewarded eight minutes before the break when the home defence failed to clear a Robert corner and Bramble thumped home a half-volley to level. Dangerman Hakan Yakin made way after an indifferent hour for Argentinian striker Julio Hernan Rossi, and his introduction gave new impetus to the Swiss league leaders. Given got down well to save Thimothee Atouba’s 73rd-minute volley, and within two minutes his side took the lead for the first time.

Atouba’s loose pass allowed Solano time and space to pick out Ameobi on the edge of the penalty area, and he twisted and turned his way past the mesmerised Zwyssig before firing left-footed past Zuberbuhler.

BASLE: Zuberbuhler, Philipp Degen, Murat Yakin, Zwyssig, Atouba, Huggel, Cantaluppi, Chipperfield, Hakan Yakin, Gimenez, Streller.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, O’Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Solano, Jenas, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi.