Newcastle make it easy in the end
Newcastle United 3 TSV 1860 Munich 1 Newcastle win 6-3 on agg.
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Your support makes all the difference.It is not the first time Newcastle have reached a European final. Back in 1969 they made it into the Fairs Cup final, with Rangers fans rioting on the St James' Park pitch after Jackie Sinclair's clinching semi-final goal.
Last night they advanced to one of the Intertoto Cup final round courtesy of an ultimately comfortable home win against the Manchester City of Munich and a 3-2 first leg win in the Olympic stadium. There were some flighty moments for Bobby Robson's Magpies after Markus Schroth equalised Gary Speed's fifth-minute header, though late goals by Lomano Lua Lua and Nolberto Solano the latter from the penalty spot ensured they finished with a three-goal aggregate cushion.
There was also a pitch invasion of sorts: the parading of Laurent Robert before the kick-off. Having taken part in Paris St-Germain's Intertoto campaign this summer, the £10m left-winger will not be eligible to play in the final round for Newcastle. Should his new colleagues overcome Troyes, however, the Frenchman will be play for his new team in the Uefa Cup in September.
Robert's first game for Newcastle is likely to be Rob Lee's testimonial against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday week. With exquisite timing, Lee returned to action last night, having recovered from the knee operation which curtailed his season at Easter. The former England midfielder hardly had time to reaquaint himself with a match ball before Newcastle stretched their aggregate lead to 4-2. They did so courtesy of Speed, who headed in a free kick that Solano clipped to the near post from wide on the right in the fifth minute.
Speed and Craig Bellamy both headed Solano crosses narrowly wide, while Shola Ameobi posed a constant threat to a Munich's three-man defence. Not that the German's were out for the count by half-time last night, Schroth beating Shay Given from close range four minutes before the break.
The assurance drained from Newcastle's play until defender Vidar Riseth stumbled in possession 10 minutes from time. Lua Lua, a replacement for Bellamy, pounced to score with his first touch. Then, in the final minute, Solano converted from the penalty spot after a handling offence by Roman Tyce.
Newcastle United (3-1-4-2): Given; Barton, Dabizas, Elliott; Hughes; Solano, Lee (S Caldwell 82), Speed (Acuña 79), Quinn; Ameobi, Bellamy (Lua Lua 79). Substitutes not used: Harper (gk), Griffin, Bernard, Bassedas.
TSV 1860 Munich (3-4-1-2): Jentzsch; Pfuderer, Riseth, Greilich; Borimirov, Tapalovic (Agostino, 79), Mykland, Tyce; Hässler; Max, Schroth. Substitutes not used: Hofmann (gk), Wiesinger, Weissenberger, Dheedene, Ehlers, Ipoua.
Referee: I Baskakov (Russia).
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