Soccer: PSV Eindhoven - 1 Newcastle Utd - 1 Bearing in mind the unpredictable nature of Newcastle United it is best not to make any assumptions, but providing they can show the discipline at St James' Park next Wednesday that they displayed for 75 minutes here last night, a second ever European semi-final is Newcastle's for the taking.
A promising omen is that Bobby Robson has lost only once in this competition in 15 ties over the decades and a 0-0 draw next week would put Newcastle through on the away-goal rule.
Having fallen behind in the 15th minute to Mateja Kezman's fine strike, Newcastle replied via the head of Jermaine Jenas seconds before half-time - Jenas was in the side because Kieron Dyer was injured.
They pump out the theme from Batman whenever Kezman scores here and next week he could be partnered by Arjen Robben. The £13-million Chelsea-bound winger should be fit for the return, so Newcastle need to be cautious.
But this was a tight, tenacious performance by Robson's team, who survived a lot of PSV attacking. Kezman was central to the Eindhoven threat and will have to be watched carefully.
The evening had begun with a chorus of "There's only one Bobby Robson" from the PSV fans massed behind Shay Given's goal. The hospitality ended there, and soon.
Just 53 seconds in and Mark van Bommel, the PSV captain and a midfielder linked with at least six English clubs over the past two years, began a surge into Given's area that ended with Van Bommel spreadeagled under a challenge from Titus Bramble.
The crowd cried penalty but the referee Gilles Veissiere waved play on.
The flow of red and white stripes charging forward continued. That is not Newcastle's favourite kit of course, but courtesy of a mistake by Aaron Hughes, Newcastle still did them a favour. Following a flick from one of the biggest names in world football, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Hughes was muscled off the ball by Kezman.
Kezman looked up and saw he was on the edge of the Newcastle box. With Bramble failing to close down the space before Kezman, the Yugoslav took aim. This was his 20th goal of the season, a curled shot that sailed over the outstretched fingers of Given and into the top corner.
But after another foul from Van der Schaaf, Newcastle equalised. It was first-half injury time when Laurent Robert stroked across the subsequent free-kick and Jenas rose highest to nod in his third goal of the season.
Newcastle's job is half-done.
PSV EINDHOVEN: Waterreus; Bogelund, Colin, Bouma, Lee, Van Bommel, Park, Van der Schaaf (Vogel 66), De Jong (Rommedahl 67), Vennegoor of Hesselink, Kezman. Subs not used: Van Dijk, Do Bonfim, Vonlanthen, Addo, Wuytens. Booked: Van der Schaaf, De Jong, Waterreus. Goal: Kezman 15.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given; Hughes, Bramble, Woodgate, Bernard, Ambrose, Jenas, Speed, Robert, Shearer (Ameobi 90), Bellamy. Subs not used: Harper, Elliott, O'Brien, Bridges, Viana, Brittain. Booked: Jenas. Goal: Jenas 45.
Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France).
