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.