Smith celebrates Magpies’ debut with winner

ALAN SMITH enjoyed a dream debut for Newcastle with the only goal in a pre-season friendly against Sampdoria.

Smith, who signed a five-year contract on Friday following his move from Manchester United, scored with a header from Geremi’s corner just before the hour mark. The 26-year-old partnered former Leeds team-mate Mark Viduka in attack before reverting to midfield later in the game.

Giovanni dos Santos, Andres Iniesta and Ronaldinho scored as Barcelona kicked off their three-game Asian tour with a 3-0 victory over Chinese Super League side Beijing Guo’an at the Beijing Fengtai Stadium. Mexican youngster Dos Santos opened the scoring after eight minutes before Iniesta doubled the lead two minutes before the hour mark and half-time substitute Ronaldinho, who replaced Thierry Henry at the break, curled home a free-kick with 13 minutes remaining.

Frank Rijkaard was without Deco, who has returned to Brazil following the birth of his fourth child, while Juliano Belletti was ruled out through injury and Carles Puyol, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Edmilson, Lionel Messi, Gabriel Milito and Rafael Marquez did not travel with the squad.

Barcelona face J.League outfit Yokohama Marinos tomorrow before rounding off their tour against a Mission Hills Invitation XI, a team made up of players from Kitchee and Happy Valley, in Hong Kong three days later.

Meanwhile, Toulouse striker Johan Elmander has a thigh strain although it is too early to say whether he could miss his club’s Champions League qualifying matches with Liverpool.

Sweden international striker Elmander, 26, picked up the injury in the 28th minute of his team’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Valenciennes in their opening game of the season.

Toulouse coach Elie Baup said; “He did not want to take a risk so we took him off. All we can do is wait.”