Uefa Cup/Sporting Lisbon 4 Newcastle 1 (Sporting win 4-2 on aggregate): Newcastle United have not inspired much external sympathy of late, but they deserved some last night. Leading through Kieron Dyer's early goal, they were playing with verve and determination when a series of injuries undermined a gritty performance and helped Sporting Lisbon back into a contest they seemed out of.
As Dyer, Titus Bramble and Jermaine Jenas limped off, Sporting scored the goals they required to progress to a semi-final against AZ Alkmaar.
That the second, third and fourth of those came from Sa Pinto, Beto and Fabio Rochemback in the last 20 minutes upped the sense of Geordie dismay, and Graeme Souness's players must now regroup before Sunday's English FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
Newcastle had chances to score more than one, though Shay Given also made telling saves throughout the match. The Irishman's display typified Newcastle's resolve.
After only 24 seconds, when Rogerio burst into the Newcastle area, Given, still nursing a hip injury, was in the business of pain avoidance. Feet-first, he blocked the low shot.
Sporting carved out two other opportunities before Dyer scored. Lee Bowyer blocked one effort, from Joao Moutinho, and the other, from Carlos Martins, sped past Given's left post at speed.
But when Polga and Rui Jorge stared at each other to see who would deal with a non-descript header from Jenas, Dyer started sprinting. Seizing possession, Dyer raced into the box and beat goalkeeper Ricardo from a tight angle.
It meant that Sporting had to score three to progress, and five minutes before half-time Niculae gave them hope. Running on to a tempting centre from Moutinho, he sneaked behind Bramble to beat Given.
SPORTING: Ricardo, Anderson Polga, Rogerio, Rui Jorge, Beto, Carlos Martins (Pedro Barbosa 67), Rochemback, Joao Moutinho, Sa Pinto (Custodio 89), Niculae (Pinilla 75), Douala. Subs Not Used: Nelson, Tello, Miguel Garcia, Mota. Booked: Beto, Anderson Polga. Goals: Niculae 40, Sa Pinto 71, Beto 77, Rochemback 90.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, Bramble (Andrew O'Brien 57), Taylor, Babayaro, Jenas (Milner 46), Faye, Bowyer, N'Zogbia, Dyer (Kluivert 60), Shearer. Subs Not Used: Harper, Ameobi, Ambrose, Butt. Booked: Bowyer, Taylor. Goals: Dyer 20.
Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden).
UEFA CUP: Quarter-finals, second leg: AZ Alkmaar 1 (Perez 8), Villarreal 1 (Figueroa 72) Agg: 3-2; Auxerre 2 (Lachuer 8, Kalou 80, pen), CSKA Moscow 0 Agg: 2-4; Parma 0, Austria Vienna 0 Agg: 1-1, Parma win on away goals).
