Football: Beresford dynamic as Newcastle gain parity

Dynamo Kiev 2

Newcastle United 2

John Beresford was Newcastle's European hero again as Kenny Dalglish's side fought back to earn a precious Champions' League point in Kiev last night.

Newcastle trailed 2-0 at half-time and were outplayed for long periods of the Group C tie against the Ukrainian champions, Dynamo Kiev. But Beresford pulled a goal back in the 77th minute, after Steve Watson's long throw had been flicked on by John Barnes, to rekindle Newcastle hopes and, six minutes from time, his enterprise brought the Magpies' equaliser.

Beresford let fly from 30 yards and his shot took a wicked deflection off Alexander Golovko that completely wrongfooted the goalkeeper Alexander Shovkovsky.

The Newcastle manager, Kenny Dalglish, said: "It was a typical Newcastle performance. They were a very good side and we gave them an early goal.

"We didn't show much in the first half but for a comeback like that we deserved it."

"As usual, we showed so much character and commitment to come back. Our resilience, our determination and the players' pride in themselves and the club brought them through."

Dalglish's injury-hit side had found Dynamo too hot to handle for most of a match played out in near-freezing conditions. Watched by a boisterous crowd of close on 100,000, the home side struck within four minutes through their Ukrainian footballer of the year, Sergei Rebrov.

Newcastle suffered another blow in the 25th minute when Faustino Asprilla, their hat-trick hero in 3-2 defeat of Barcelona at St James' Park, limped off with a knee injury. Three minutes later Dynamo scored what seemed to be a decisive second, Andrei Shevchenko coolly steering a low shot wide of the advancing Shay Given. Both goals were created by influential former Belarusian footballer of the year, Valentin Belkevich.

Newcastle went into the tie without Alessandro Pistone, who failed to recover from a foot injury. Stuart Pearce and Rob Lee were given until the final hours before the kick off before decisions were made on their fitness. Lee played, but Pearce missed out, still suffering from a hamstring strain.

The home side caused problems from the start with their pace and ability to go past the United defenders down either flank proving decisive.

Lee failed to reappear after the half-time interval with the Georgian midfielder Temur Ketsbaia replacing him. Dalglish's men lacked nothing in spirit as Ketsbaia pushed them forward, but moves broke down with United lacking a cutting edge up front. But Beresford gave the Magpies hope when he fired home his fourth goal of the season 12 minutes from time. Newcastle's left-back then salvaged a point with his deflected late strike.

Dalglish said: "At the end of the day I would like to think we will do better defensively in future games but, for most of the second half, it was us who were in control even though they were still dangerous."

Beresford, who scored twice in the preliminary round victory over Croatia Zagreb, said: "It's an unbelievable result and as Alan Shearer says every goal is a great goal."

Dynamo Kiev: Shovkovsky; Luzhny (Bezhenar, 41), Golovko, Vashchuk, Dimitrulin, Kossovsky, Shevchenko, Rebrov, Gusin, Khatskevich (Radchenko, 73), Belkevich (Mikhailenko, 68). Substitutes not used: Kernozenko (gk), Samoilov, Shmatovalenko, Volosianko.

Newcastle United: Given; Barton, Peacock, Albert, Beresford; Watson, Lee (Ketsbaia, h-t); Batty, Gillespie; Barnes, Asprilla (Tomasson, 27). Substitutes not used: Hislop (gk), Howey, Rush, Hamilton, Hughes.

Referee: P Mikkelsen (Denmark).