Here we go... Match day one of the UEFA cup group stages. The boys are out in Athens to face Neos Panionios Athinai, lying a poor 13th out of 16th after 4 matchdays. I don't think this game should pose much problems. The other group game has Sochaux winning away in Tbilisi, thus taking a good option toward qualification. Betting odds for today Panionios 4.00 Draw 3.40 Newcastle 1.72
Thats 3 points for us. Ameobi with a late tumble in the box led to a Shearer penalty kick in the 86th minute. 1-0 was the final, though it souned like Newcastle had the marority of the attack in the second half. Standings: Sochaux 3 pts Newcastle 3 pts
We were wearing our yellow shirts again, and #9 was trying to keep his brain from spilling out: (from soccernet.com)
Sorry about the abbreviated standings table above. I hit "post" too soon. here's the complete look: Sochaux 3 pts. +2 Newcastle 3 pts. +1 Sporting 0 pts. 0 Panionios 0 pts. -1 Tbilisi 0 pts. -2 Matchday 2 is November 4. Newcastle host Tbilisi and Sporting host Panionios. If the same two teams lose again, the top three teams would be very close to being set in stone. Obviously, a second win would pretty much wrap up a place in the next round for us. I'm not sure what the tie-breakers are in this competition, but if head-to-head is the first tie-breaker, then a win would mathematically clinch a place in the next round for us. Not bad for matchday 2 out of 5.
here's the penalty call: here's the winner: with all these pictures, its almost as if you were there!
Never thought I'd be saying this, but I love the yellow kit-- they even added some yellow to the socks for this run-out. Very nice.
Can you feel it? Can you just feel the exitement for Thursday? Dinamo's in town!!! Dynamo Kiev? lower Dynamo Moscow? lower Dynamo Minsk? getting close... It's Dinamo Tbilisi!!! Now, they better win this one and it better not be close.
A win is the main thing - I will settle for 1-0. Having said that, we should expect a lot more, particularly given Dinamo's dreadful form in domestic games recently. In the days of soviet communism, Dinamo did have a good team - I remember them absolutely thrashing West Ham, something like 4-1, at Upton Park.
Just out of curiousity, has Newcastle traditionally done well the match after a mid week European match? Sorry, I am a Fulham fan and I was wondering of the match for Newcastle tomorrow would at all hinder their preparation for Sunday's match with Fulham.
Just for you... UEFA cup / EPL next match - NEC (h) 5-0 win / Arsenal 2-3 loss the Jenas handball match - NEC (a) 1-0 win / Boro 1-0 win (a) - Basel (a) 3-2 win / Chelsea (a) 0-5 Shearer out, it showed... - Basel (h) 1-0 win / Wolves (a) 1-1 - Valerenga (a) 1-1 / Pompey (a) 1-1 LuaLua ties in the 89' - Mallorca (h) 4-1 win / Spurs (a) 0-1 loss - Mallorca (a) 3-0 win / Bolton (a) 0-1 - PSV (a) 1-1 / Arsenal 0-0 no shame here - PSV (h) 2-1 win / Villa (a) 0-0 - OM (h) 0-0 / Chelsea 2-1 win Another Shearer magic moment - OM (a) 0-2 loss / Wolves (h) 1-1 Then, the squad was on the bare bones as injuries were rampant Summary: 1W, 3D & 4L But then Fulham ain't Arsenal or Chelsea
Sochaux 0-4 Newcastle Lee Bowyer (29) Shola Ameobi (46) Craig Bellamy (75) Laurent Robert (90) Yellow Cards Lee Bowyer (12) Olivier Bernard (42) This forum sure has dried up. Thx, Jay!
Sporting 0 - Sochaux 1 That's a pretty surprising result, but it means that a draw at home to Sporting makes us the group winners, with what should be an easy tie in the last 32. Sporting's goal difference is one worse than ours (8-2, as opposed to 7-0), so a win against us would put them at the head of the group. For us to finish lower than second, the respective goal differences between us and Sochaux (currently they are -1) would have to change hugely.
Yah, Who hosts the Sporting match? I'd feel better if we win it outright and be done with it and face a lower UEFA cup side than to finish second and risk facing some giant falling out of the CL.
We are at home. It would be surprising if we didn't get at least a draw, but I am sure Sporting will go all out for the win.