Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Newcastle performed one miracle to qualify from the first round of the Champions' League. With just one match in Group A of the second phase played, a calamitous affair in which they had Craig Bellamy sent off after five minutes and trailed Internazionale 3-0 by half-time, they may already need another – especially with Barcelona away next on the agenda.
It is difficult enough playing with a man less against the Premiership's lesser lights, let alone against a side that almost won the Italian title last season. Newcastle showed character in carrying the fight to Inter as they sought to sit on the advantage provided by Domenico Morfeo (after 65 seconds), Matias Almeyda and Hernan Crespo but, at this rarefied level, spirit will take you only so far.
Nolberto Solano did retrieve a goal with 17 minutes remaining following a fine pass by Laurent Robert. However, there was no way back for Newcastle, and Alvaro Recoba reasserted Inter's superiority eight minutes from time by angling a stunning shot past Shay Given 30 seconds after jogging off the bench.
Bellamy, who left the pitch in tears, later admitted: "I've no one to blame but myself. I've let everyone down." An emotional Sir Bobby Robson denounced the Welshman's behaviour in aiming a kick at Marco Materazzi as "irresponsible and unprofessional", saying it was an "internal matter" which he would deal with in "the appropriate fashion". Asked whether the incident was a turning point, the Newcastle manager replied: "Of course it was. We were already 1-0 down, and he's one of our match-winners."
Robson hailed the "energy and commitment" of the 10 men as "magnificent", though whether the outcome would have been any different but for Inter's numerical advantage must be doubtful. Newcastle's defending was slipshod, with Nikos Dabizas particularly culpable and Aaron Hughes repeatedly exposed at left-back.
Newcastle, who shipped five goals at Old Trafford on Saturday, made what Robson described as "the most horrible, cruel start imaginable". Inter's first goal – the first by Italian visitors to St James' Park in four matches dating back to 1970 – meant they trailed before breaking sweat.
Javier Zanetti, allowed the freedom of the right by Dabizas' rash challenge and Hughes' poor positioning, crossed low. The ball passed just behind Christian Vieri but Morfeo, galloping in at the far post, crashed the ball high into the net.
Robson had set great store by the appearance of the talismanic Bellamy, who has been struggling with a knee injury yet had scored both the goal which took his club into the last 16 and Wales' decider against Italy. But after an innocuous-looking brush with Materazzi, the former Everton defender, Bellamy flicked out a foot at his opponent, who tumbled to the turf as if struck by a flying mallet.
The referee, a French policeman, consulted his assistant before brandishing his red card. Given that Bellamy had already been suspended for three games after video evidence convicted him of butting a Dynamo Kiev player, it was the height of folly, which may earn him another three-match ban.
Geordie indignation filled the air. Their team's response was suitably feisty. Dabizas sent a diving header wide and Solano tested Toldo from a free-kick, although Alan Shearer appeared to overstep the mark by felling Fabio Cannavaro with an elbow – a moment of frustration which may prompt Uefa to punish him retrospectively.
Robson said he was "praying" his team would reach half-time still only one down. But, in the 35th minute, Andy Griffin cleared off the line from Crespo and hacked the ball to Almeyda, 25 yards out. The midfielder, who Robson claimed would have been picked up by Bellamy, brutally dispatched it back beyond Given from 25 yards.
Inter moved out of sight in first-half stoppage time. With no cover in sight, Hughes dived in to a challenge against Okan Buruk, failed to connect and watched aghast as Crespo converted the Turk's near-post cross under pressure from Andy O'Brien. Solano's riposte raised hopes of a Feyenoord-style finish, only for Recoba, taking a pass from Stéphane Dalmat, to stamp his sumptuous talent on a tawdry night.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Given; Griffin, O'Brien, Dabizas, Hughes (S Caldwell, 87); Solano, Dyer, Speed, Viana (Robert, h-t); Bellamy, Shearer. Substitutes not used: Acuña, Jenas, LuaLua, Ameobi, Harper (gk).
Internazionale (4-4-2): Toldo; J Zanetti, Materazzi (Cordoba, 15), Cannavaro, Pasquale; Okan Buruk (Dalmat, 67), Emre Belozoglu, Almeyda, Morfeo; Crespo (Recoba, 81), Vieri. Substitutes not used: Di Biagio, Gamarra, Coco, Fontana (gk).
Referee: S Bré (France).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments