Magpies’ wings clipped by dynamic Dynamo

Dynamo Kiev 2 Newcastle United 0

Striker Maksim Shatskikh fired the home side in front with a 16th-minute piledriver and Aliaksandr Khatskevich added a second 17 minutes after the restart.

But it could have been even worse for the Tynesiders on a night when they created few chances despite enjoying plenty of the ball.

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson left wingers Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano on the bench making way for Portuguese teenager Hugo Viana and full-back Andy Griffin. Kiev, too, shuffled their pack as Vitalii Reva rather than 19-year-old Rustam Khudzhamov replaced the injured Olexandr Shovkovskyi in goal.

Andrii Husin, who played in both games between the two sides in 1997, returned along with club record signing Jerko Leko and Brazilian striker Leandro.

Northern Ireland international Hughes, who kept a tight rein on Roma’s Francesco Totti in the UEFA Cup three years ago, was again asked to do a man-to-man marking job, this time on dangerman Florin Cernat, who lined up behind front two Leandro and Maksim Shatskikh.

Viana had a first chance to test the resolve of the Kiev rearguard with six minutes gone after Kieron Dyer was fouled by Andriy Nesmachny wide on the right, and although the initial cross was cleared, Nikos Dabizas was on hand to collect Hughes’ header back in, but scooped his shot high over.

Shearer left the pitch to return moments later with his head bandaged after a clash with Husin, and he came back just as Kiev, prompted by Cernat and Georgi Peev, started to increase the tempo.

And the pressure paid off with 16 minutes gone when Leko was allowed time and space in the middle of the park to deliver the ball into Shatskikh’s run and he hammered a 25-yard shot first time past Given’s despairing dive and into the top corner of the post.

Newcastle’s response was swift as they took the game to their opponents once again, defender Tiberiu Ghioane scrambling the ball away from Craig Bellamy in front of goal after Shearer had headed down a 23rd-minute Dyer cross.

The England midfielder found himself bearing down on goal seconds later after Bellamy played him into space inside the box, but his shot clipped a defender and ran out for a corner.

United were starting to dominate as the rain-soaked home supporters attempted to lift their side once again, and they thought they had extended their lead on the half hour when Cernat and Leandro combined to feed Leko at the far post, but an offside flag rightly ended the celebrations.

United were still seeing plenty of the ball in attacking positions, but with Shearer and Bellamy being well marshalled, chances were rare.

By contrast, Kiev were attacking at will and Cernat curled a left-foot effort inches wide on the stroke of half-time after Robson’s side failed to clear their lines. The 19-year-old Viana drove a low shot just past Reva’s left post three minutes after the restart as United attempted to force their way back into the game, but Kiev were soon back into their stride.

Shatskikh saw another strike ruled out for offside with 50 minutes gone, although the decision was again clear cut.

Robson’s side managed to wrest control from their hosts for an extended period as the half wore on but, with Kiev defending in numbers, the path to goal was consistently blocked. But things got worse for the visitors on 62 minutes when Cernat slipped Melaschenko in and when his first-time shot was parried by Given, Aliaksandr Khatskevich stooped to head the loose ball into the empty net.

Just as they had done five years ago at the same stadium, United were left with a mountain to climb, but there were few signs of the heroics which led to a late John Beresford double to clinch a hard-earned point that night.

Dabizas directed a header from a 68th-minute Viana corner, and that was the signal for Robson to revert to his more accustomed formation as Solano and Robert replaced Hughes and Bernard.

Shearer made way for Shola Ameobi with 11 minutes remaining as Robson played his final card, but Kiev were showing few signs of wilting as they did back in 1997.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given, Griffin, Dabizas, Hughes, O’Brien, Bernard, Speed, Viana, Dyer, Shearer, Bellamy.

DYNAMO KIEV: Reva, Khatskevich, Cernat, Teev, Husin, Shatskikh, Ghioane, Machardo, Nesmachnyy, Sadlic, Leko.