Panionios Athens 0 Newcastle United 1

Last updated : 21 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

The Graeme Souness success story continued after captain fantastic Alan Shearer was left spot on to get Newcastle off to a flying start in their opening Group D game in the UEFA Cup.

Last season's beaten semi-finalists faced a potentially tough match away to Panionios and left it late before securing all three points.

Fresh from his hat-trick in the last round, Shearer held his nerve to strike the all important winner just three minutes from time.

It came from the penalty spot after substitute Shola Ameobi had been crudely upended inside the area by Grigoris Makos just seconds after having what looked an equally legitimate penalty shout brushed aside by Italian referee Roberto Rosetti.

But anything less than a United win would have been a travesty of justice in a tie that they dominated from start to finish on a difficult playing surface, The Greek side did their best to repel the United attacking force who rattled up 16 efforts at goal compared to just four from the Athens outfit.

Patience was always going to be the key, but even Souness must have been relieved by the late-late show.

Chances came and went with all too much regularity while at the same time, Panionios keeper Sorin Colceag was in inspirational form.

United showed their intentions from the off as they cleverly maintained possession and frustrated the home team who at times were left chasing shadows.

A magnificent Jermaine Jenas early run set up the apologetic Craig Bellamy whose shot was deflected behind.

The recalled Laurent Robert had a free-kick blocked and the rebound magnificently clawed out by Colceag.

Jenas then shot straight at the keeper on the half-hour mark and on the stroke of half-time showed some woeful finishing when a Robert free-kick fell at his feet.

Within seconds of the restart Shearer climbed above Petr Vlcek to get on the end of a Robert cross, but the header lacked any real purchase even though Colceag needed two attempts to hang on to the ball.

Bellamy was played in on 66 minutes but once again the keeper came to the rescue with a block at the expense of a corner.

Shay Given was a virtual spectator as United piled on the pressure and the Greeks found it difficult to clear their lines.

A shot on the turn from Shearer was held and then he saw a goalbound header tipped over the bar.

Souness sent on Ameobi for James Milner after 67 minutes and the striker's impact was immense.

Yet his first touch was to waste a golden opportunity when an excellent Robert free-kick from the right found him unmarked only for Ameobi to head downwards, both weakly and wide.

Ameobi was then sent sprawling inside the box but the referee would have nothing to do with United's complaints.

The Italian official then had the opportunity to make up for his error when Ameobi cleverly turned Makos on the edge of the box with great strength, only to be barged to the ground.

The referee this time pointed straight to the spot and United's record European marksman Shearer did the rest.