Newcastle had a bit of luck last night, and after playing second fiddle to a very good Anzhi Makhachkala side in the first half, Newcastle got their act together in the second half and finally won the game in dramatic style.
Papiss Cisse heads home winner last night
And it didn’t hurt that Anzhi defender Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez was sent off for a second booking ten minutes into the second half.
Newcastle applied a lot of pressure in the second half, but the Anzhi team were very well organized and even with 10 men they were a threat, and the Russian side nearly won the game with three minutes to go, when Mbark Boussoufa hit the cross-bar with a superbly taken free-kick.
But it was that combination of Sylvain Marveaux and Papiss Cisse that got the job done for Newcastle for the second game running, and after three minutes of added time a beautiful right wing cross from Marveaux found Cisse free on the six yard box, and he headed the ball home in great style to win the game for Newcastle.
And before they could restart the game, the referee blew the whistle – there had been three minutes allotted for added time.
Alan Pardew admitted it was a close game, when he had this to say to the local press:
“We squeezed over the line, but I think we deserved it over the two games.” “It was a great cross from Sylvain Marveaux to set up Papiss who did it last weekend against Stoke and he did it again here.
“I am highly delighted because they were two tough games and we’ve kept two clean sheets. We showed great resistance.” “Their man being sent off was a massive influence on the game and it was a late challenge, so we were better in the second half and were able to exert pressure. When you do that you score goals.
“They had a free-kick which came off the bar, but I do think we deserved to go through. It’s a great night for the club.”
There will be three English teams in the quarter finals draw later this morning in Nyon, and that makes up just a little, for not having any English teams in the Champions League quarter finals for the first time in seventeen years.
Since the five Frenchmen arrived in January, Newcastle have now negotiated two tough Europa League ties against Metalist Kharkiv and Anzhi Makhachkala, with two wins and two draws, and not conceded in the four games, and in the league we’ve won four of our six league games – not too bad.
Howay The Lads!!
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17 comments so far
Rainrix
Mar 15, 2013 at 8:59 AM
Comment #1We deserved to win no doubt. Our biggest enemy last night was ourselves. If anzhi couldn’t take advantage of our occasional laxness then they really didn’t deserve to go through
Santon03
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:04 AM
Comment #2I would rather have Spurs or Chelsea as next opponent.
We already know about them and they have other priority especially for CL spot, if their next opponent in the league is one of their close rivals then they wouldn’t go all out for the Europa games.
Troy Stavers
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:05 AM
Comment #3We played a good side. They had a £60m strike force and our defence coped.
They know how to nullify teams. They did for long periods. Did anyone really expect us to destroy them?
We won! We are through to the quarter finals of the Europa cup! I wish people would enjoy the moment instead of looking for faults. !
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Comment #4Santon
No – I would rather they play each other.
Rainrix
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Comment #5Santon… Ideally they’ll play each other. They’ve both shown that despite them both being in the chase for CL football, that they’ll play full strength sides regardless.
Besides it kinda takes the point out of “europa” when you’re playing another english team 🙂
SuperShearer
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Comment #6Any news on Cabaye’s injury? Will he be fit for Wigan?
Markaccus
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Comment #7Martoon. Lucky sod!
I think grinding out results the way we did last night breeds confidence. Our defence was great last night.
Some of our passing is dodgy, and we seem to create very few good chances to score lately, but as long as they go in it’s not too bad. I’m sure, as the new players gel more and more with the team, we will look better and better. We’re getting there, and we’re winning while we do it. I’m optomistic.
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Comment #8I’d rather play any team than chelsea and spurs…just want a proper european night, not a domestic team we play every year.
El Sleeve
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Comment #9you wouldnt be saying nice things about pards if we’d lost.
Troy Stavers
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Comment #10@Markaccus
Exactly! 😉
Liverpool dominated Europe in the 70’s & 80’s by keeping things tight away from home. A 0-0 result was classed as success in those days and to then to nick the home leg 1-0 was job done.
We simply don’t have the players to dominate good European clubs. We got beat off Swansea the other week.
What do some expect. ? Delusional.
Troy Stavers
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Comment #11@El Seeve
We didn’t lose tho. We won. Pards deserves plaudits.
Did Chelsea dominate last night? Spuds?
Get real and stop believing before the game starts that we have enough quality players to dominate euro teams.
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #12el sleeve
I think last night we did struggle to break the down…lets not forget though they have some good players and also one of the best managers of the past 25 years who will have them well drilled and knowing exactly what to do.
did we dominate them? no…but did they dominate us? no.
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Comment #13tryo
Exaclty….we haven’t got a team of world beaters who should be beating all of these teams…we have done well to get through.
And correct…we didn’t lose. Thats what’s important. We didn’t create a load of chances but we limited them to nothing really….they had one shot on target…from the by-line by eto’o which was never going to go in from that angle and then that free kick.
I’d take a 1-0 every round in the europa if it sees us lift a cup.
In the league I understand the need to perform better as you cant win 38 games 1-0…but you can win 5/6 games 1-0 in a cup competition to get through.
Markaccus
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Comment #14Troy, I think its because the players we have recently signed are potentially excellent players, with the individual skills to make us a smart, passing side that will create lots of chances. Some of those players had a couple of cracking games when they first joined, and because of this, some people assume we are already Barca and should be winning 4-0 every game. Instant success is demanded everywhere in football. Win first, win ugly if necesary, but win. Then go from there.
WesJameson
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #15Saylor and MYM = WOW
Tiote = running out of time, really poor AGAIN!!
Campbell = Raw, quick and a really exciting prospect, worked hard for the team last night, a couple hairy moments however from him
south coast toon
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #16you,ve hit the nail on the head there manager has been and done it all and pardue has beat him, we had a kid on thec pitch cambell , a left back and centre back who arrive 6wks ago as did sissoko who has played every game, steven taylor and cabeye who have not long been back from injury, second choice keeper,,,,, and we didnt play like barcelona, we beat a top side who couldnt score against us with a multi million pound strike force and one of the best managers in the wourld, can we win it, yes we can ,man u are just lucky we didnt bring the french crusaders in last summer, silverwear here we come
Troy Stavers
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:40 AM
Comment #17@Markaccus
Exactly. 😉
It’s embarrassing to hear some on though don’t you think?
Do they never take a step back and take a reality check?