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Match Report
 
 

Draw Not Good Enough
As We Bow Out

               Newcastle United           0... 
 

               Roma                           0......
 
 

                                        Newcastle's UEFA Cup dreams faded and died as AS
                                        Roma staged a brave rearguard action to win their place
                                        in the fourth round. Goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli
                                        proved the hero as he saved twice from Temuri Ketsbaia
                                        either side of half-time under an onslaught from the
                                        Magpies.

                                        But clear-cut chances were few and far between on a
                                        night when both sides defended admirably. Bobby
                                        Robson's gamble in starting with Kieron Dyer never really
                                        paid off and even the introduction of Duncan Ferguson as
                                        a late substitute failed to pay dividends.

                                        The result was tough on Newcastle, who ultimately went
                                        out by virtue of Francesco Totti's penalty at the Olympic
                                        Stadium a fortnight ago. Although the night ended in
                                        disappointment there were creditable performances all
                                        over the pitch as United extended their unbeaten home
                                        run under Robson to eight games.

                                        Robson signalled his intention to take the game to the
                                        Italians by including Dyer in the starting line-up for his
                                        first action since undergoing surgery on a calf injury in
                                        October. But striker Ferguson was kept in reserve on the
                                        bench, while Laurent Charvet came in for the ineligible
                                        Helder.

                                        Serie A leaders Roma opted for two changes to the side
                                        which won the first leg, with Amedeo Mangone replacing
                                        Alessandro Rinaldi and Damiano Tomassi getting the
                                        nod over Eusebio Di Francesco. Both managers had
                                        vowed to adopt an attacking approach and the game
                                        unfolded as an end-to-end affair, although defences
                                        were on top in the early stages.

                                        Dyer, clearly short of match fitness, was the first to show
                                        as he slid the ball across the penalty area towards
                                        Shearer on four minutes, but the England skipper could
                                        just not get a touch. Shearer and Dyer combined a
                                        minute later to set up Ketsbaia but Brazilian Zago
                                        intervened with a vital tackle as the Georgian shot. Gary
                                        Speed sent a header well wide after Dyer had again
                                        turned up on the right wing and Rob Lee chanced his arm
                                        with two long-range efforts.

                                        But the Italians were, as expected, proving a threat on
                                        the break and Charvet had to time his tackle perfectly on
                                        Marco Delvecchio as the Italian took Zago's long pass on
                                        his chest and homed in on goal with 18 minutes gone.
                                        Newcastle's hopes suffered a blow 10 minutes later when
                                        Franck Dumas had to go off with a wrist injury after falling
                                        awkwardly. Aaron Hughes, who had man-marked Totti in
                                        the Olympic Stadium, replaced him.

                                        Hughes was still finding his feet when Shearer drove a
                                        25-yard free-kick inches wide, but it was Ketsbaia who
                                        perhaps should have put his side in front on 31 minutes.
                                        Lee's powerful run set up the striker on the left side of
                                        the penalty area but keeper Antonioli was off his line
                                        quickly to block.

                                        Roma enjoyed their best spell of the half as the minutes
                                        ticked away and Steve Harper had to pull off a good
                                        reaction save to keep out Aldair's 38th-minute header.
                                        Two minutes later the keeper was relieved to see
                                        German referee Hartmut Strampe wave play on as
                                        Delvecchio went down under his challenge as he collected
                                        Vincenzo Montella's defence-splitting pass. But United
                                        went close once again in injury time when Shearer
                                        headed over from Nolberto Solano's corner.

                                        Roma came within inches of the perfect start to the
                                        second half when Solano lost the ball on halfway and
                                        Totti charged forward. The Roma skipper took aim from
                                        20 yards but his low drive flew just wide of Harper's
                                        right-hand post.

                                        Then, Shearer went close with a 54th-minute header after
                                        Speed had played on a Speed free-kick, but it was
                                        Ketsbaia again who had a golden opportunity on 61
                                        minutes after Shearer flicked on Charvet's cross. Dyer
                                        picked up the loose ball and fed it out to the Georgian
                                        on the edge of the box, but his shot was turned away by
                                        Antonioli.

                                        But as Newcastle failed to find a cutting edge, Robson
                                       decided it was time to introduce the clearly unfit Ferguson
                                        with 17 minutes remaining. The Scot replaced Dyer and
                                        Stephen Glass came on for Ketsbaia in a last-ditch
                                        attempt to get back into the tie. Ferguson's presence
                                        seemed to unsettle Antonioli and he opted to punch
                                        away Solano's 80th-minute free-kick under pressure from
                                        the Scot when he could have caught the ball with few
                                        problems.

                                        The game erupted two minutes later when a scuffle
                                        broke out in the Roma penalty area with the visitors
                                        claiming that Ferguson had felled Zago with an elbow.
                                        Mangone was booked for a trip on Charvet as Newcastle
                                        threw everything at the Italians, but Glass' free-kick was
                                        easy for Antonioli.

                                        Newcastle piled forward as time ran out but it was the
                                        visitors who almost snatched it at the death, Totti
                                        chipping just over the bar with Harper beaten and
                                        Delvecchio firing into the side-netting.