Shola Wonder Goal Stuns Italians!

Last updated : 19 November 2013 By Footy Mad - Editor

Italy and Nigeria shared the honours in a lively friendly at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

kGiuseppe Rossi put Italy ahead early on but Nigeria hit back with two goals in five minutes before half-time, Bright Dike levelling before Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi put the African Nations Cup champions ahead.

However, Sunderland forward Emanuele Giaccherini equalised for Italy in the 47th minute as the clash finished 2-2.

Both teams had their share of chances to win the game but were denied by great goalkeeping.

Substitute Alessandro Diamanti came closest to snatching a decider for Italy but saw his free-kick hit the crossbar five minutes from time.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had demanded a strong performance from his players in what was his 50th game in charge of the Azzurri.

Despite the result - Italy's fourth consecutive draw - his players delivered in front of a crowd of 15,000.

Nigeria went into the contest fresh from qualifying for their fifth World Cup finals and proved worthy opponents.

As expected, Prandelli fielded an experimental defence with goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu taking Gianluigi Buffon's place.

Rossi, who missed last week's friendly draw against Germany with a fever, partnered Mario Balotelli in attack.

Only four players that started in Saturday's World Cup play-off victory over Ethiopia were included in Stephen Keshi's starting line-up.

The African champions had the first chance of the game in the third minute when Victor Moses' 30-yard free-kick went wide, but it was Italy who took the lead through Rossi's 11th-mintue strike.

Balotelli set up Rossi in the box and the former Manchester United striker's left-footed strike beat Nigeria goalkeeper Austine Ejide.

Nigeria almost equalised in the 13th minute when Sirigu was forced at full stretch to turn away Ogenyi Onazi's bullet strike from outside the area.

Italy should have doubled their lead midway through the first half but Riccardo Montolivo fired wide from a good position.

Balotelli then missed a golden chance before the half-hour mark when he failed to beat Ejide on a one-on-one.

It proved costly as Nigeria equalised in the 35th minute when Dike headed Ameobi's cross past a helpless Sirigu.

The African side went in front five minutes later.

A fast break from Nigeria surprised Italy's defence and saw Ameobi get on the end of Francis Benjamin's cross from the left and strike the ball past Sirigu to silence the Italian supporters.

Before half-time, Balotelli played a one-two with Rossi and his right-footed strike was kept out by Ejide.

Italy drew level early in the second half when Antonio Candreva spotted an unmarked Giaccherini in the left side of the box and his left-footed shot beat Ejide.

Before the hour mark, Ejide made a vital save to deny substitute Andrea Pirlo's curled free-kick before the Nigeria goalkeeper was forced out of the action soon after through injury, with Vincent Enyeama taking his place.

Italy continued to press forward and Balotelli's right-footed shot went just wide.

Sirigu was then forced to palm over the bar a goal-bound strike from substitute John Ogu as Nigeria sought to go back in front.

With 12 minutes remaining, Christian Maggio's dangerous cross towards the far post found an unmarked Balotelli, but the forward struck the ball poorly in what proved to be a frustrating evening for the former Manchester City man.

Diamanti then almost snatched the winner but Nigeria, who like Italy went through World Cup qualifying unbeaten, held on for the draw.

IDEAL FOR CHRISTMAS

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MAGPIES IN EUROPE -

HARVEY TO PARDEW

sThe new version of "Magpies In Europe" will be launched next week.

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The 280-page book features match reports from the 134 European matches Newcastle United have played, starting with the memorable 4-0 win over Feyenoord in 1968 on our European debut. 

Included are stats and the figures you would expect, but also each away fixture has the remarkable experiences of individuals who travelled to watch the matches. 

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It is a fascinating history that every Newcastle United fan will enjoy. 

And with a limited print-run, make sure you order a copy. 

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NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14 

PREMIER LEAGUE 

TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi

NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.

SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.

NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78'  Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.

CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
 

EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
 

NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett 

ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett 

NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett 

NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett 

MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan 

LEAGUE CUP 

NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi

NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
 

MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete 

Newcastle United Fixtures

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Saturday November 23
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Norwich City

Saturday November 30
17:30 Premier League
Newcastle United v West Brom

Wednesday December 4
19:45  Premier League
Swansea City v Newcastle United

Saturday December 7
12:45 Premier League
Man Utd v Newcastle United

Saturday December 14
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Southampton

Saturday December 21
15:00 Premier League
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United

Thursday December 26
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Stoke City

Sunday December 29
13:30 Premier League
Newcastle United v Arsenal

Wednesday January 1 2014
15:00 Premier League
West Brom v Newcastle United