Magpies blast their way into the big time

Newcastle United 4 NK Zeljeznicar 0

Kieron Dyer and Lomana Lua Lua fired their side into a 2-0 lead by the break, and after defender Sanel Jahic had been dismissed, Portuguese star Hugo Viana and Alan Shearer finished the job to open the door to the European big time.

It took the home side seven minutes to create a meaningful opportunity, but Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano failed to make the most of it when, after the space opened up in front of him and with runners making their moves, he shot tamely wide from 25 yards.

he Bosnian champions were increasingly forcing their way into the game with Biscevic and Denis Karic working hard in central midfield to feed Guvo and Radonja, who were making life uncomfortable for Robson’s back four.

But the home fans did not have to wait long for the opening goal when, a minute later, Solano and Shearer exchanged passes for the Peruvian to play Kieron Dyer into space, and just as he had done in the first leg in Sarajevo, he lifted the ball expertly over the advancing Hagasic to make it 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate.

However, it was 2-0 on 37 minutes when LuaLua collected Speed’s pass and, after evading Alihodzic’s challenge on the edge of the box, curled a beautiful right-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Given was kept on his toes by Adin Mulaosmanovic’s dipping drive a minute later.

And the Irishman excelled himself in injury time to keep out Sead Seferovic’s stinging shot after Biscevic’s corner fell to him at the far post.

The game almost had the air of a pre-season friendly as United attempted to kill the tie off and Zeljeznicar battled for pride, but it took a fine save from Hagasic to keep out Shearer’s 58th-minute rocket after Solano had tapped a free-kick to him.

The temperature was raised again two minutes later when the former England skipper picked up possession 25 yards out and hammered a shot against the goalkeeper’s left post.

Sergei Tica replaced Karic with 63 minutes gone and immediately set about the task of getting among the black and white shirts, but with his team-mates tiring, openings were few and far between.

At the other end, Hagasic somehow managed to keep out Viana’s shot four minutes later. His side’s task became even more difficult on 70 minutes when Jahic tripped substitute Ameobi as he homed in on goal and was shown the red card.

Winger Viana scored his first goal for the Magpies four minutes later.

Shearer finally added his name to the scoresheet 10 minutes from time when he beat the offside trap to collect another Dyer pass and shot home off Hagasic. Shearer should have claimed a second on 85 minutes when he directed Viana’s free-kick onto the bar and then saw a close-range header ruled out for offside, but the tie had been over for some time when the final whistle signalled the end of Zeljo’s adventure and the beginning of another for Newcastle.