Final score

27 November 2002 20:45

Newcastle
26' (2nd half) SOLANO
Inter
36' (2nd half) Recoba
1' (2nd half) Crespo
34' Almeyda
2' Morfeo
Referee: Stéphane Bre / Linesmen: Dagorne, Lebourvellec / Fourth official: Piccirillo
Minute Text commentary
45' 3 minutes added on.
44' Precision pass from Morfeo to Zanetti, who fails to provide Crespo and Vieri with a good cross.
38' Shearer capitalises on defensive suicide by Cordoba. The English striker then shoots wide.
34' 2-0 TO INTER!!! Crespo hits a post from an Emre corner. Almeyda follows up with a 20-yard screamer that gives Given :) no chance.
32' Toldo pulls off a miraculous save from a Solano free kick, which looks destined to go in at the top-hand corner.
26' Javier Zanetti yellow-carded for moving the ball after Newcastle are awarded a free kick.
25' Shearer elbows Cannavaro on the back of his neck, but the French referee doesn't have the courage to send another Newcastle player off.
23' Pasquale makes a crucial intervention for the Nerazzurri, preventing Solano from going in on goal. Corner to Newcastle.
19' Emre plays a superb ball through to Vieri, who controls with his chest but is then dispossessed by Dabizas.
14' Inter substitution - Cordoba on for Materazzi.
9' Cannavaro booked for fouling Shearer.
5' YOU'RE OFF!!! Bellamy is given his marching orders for kicking Materazzi in an off-the-ball incident. Newcastle down to ten men.
2' GOOOAAAL!!! Zanetti crosses to Crespo, who passes to Morfeo, who shoots past the Newcastle custodian from inside the box.
1' Newcastle kick off tonight's Champions League Group A fixture at a packed St. James' Park.
Minute Text commentary
47' That's it. Inter beat Newcastle 4-1.
46' Morfeo takes the ball to the by-line, then crosses into the middle of the area for Vieri, who fails to hit the target.
45' 2 minutes added on.
39' Magpies substitution - Caldwell on for Hughes.
36' After just 20 seconds on the pitch, Recoba puts the Nerazzurri 4-1 up with a left-footed shot from a Dalmat pass.
35' Recoba on for Crespo.
33' Yet another dangerous set piece from Robert. Toldo makes yet another save with his fists.
32' Vieri booked for protesting.
26' The Magpies pull a goal back. Robert intercepts a ball and passes to Solano, who from inside the box slots home past a blameless Toldo.
24' Robert plays in a low cross from the left. Toldo dives and collects.
22' Toldo punches away another free kick from Robert.
21' Inter substitution - Dalmat on for Okan.
18' Through on goal, Crespo controls with the ball with his arm. Yellow card.
16' Vieri passes to Almeyda, the Argentine's shot from the edge of the Newcastle box takes a deflection, but Brè doesn't give a corner.
15' Robert strikes a powerful free kick which finishes just wide.
12' Okan beats an opponent and opens up play for Morfeo, whose shot is cleared by the Tynesiders. Corner to Inter.
7' Dabizas forces Toldo to make a good save with a header from a corner.
5' Robson brings Robert on for Viana at the start of the second half.
4' We're underway in the second half.
3' Inter take a commanding lead going into the break.
1' 3-0 TO THE NERAZZURRI. A dream first half ends with a text-book move. Okan crosses from the right wing to Crespo, who anticipates Given to score and put Inter 3-0 up.
Recoba
8.11
8.11
Vieri
6.95
6.95
Zanetti
7.75
7.75
Cordoba
7.12
7.12
Dalmat
7.16
7.16
Materazzi
6.52
6.52
Emre
8.85
8.85
Okan
8.41
8.41
Toldo
7.5
7.5
Pasquale
7.44
7.44
Morfeo
7.27
7.27
Almeyda
7.92
7.92
Cannavaro
7.6
7.6
Crespo
8.09
8.09
Average rating 7.62
4 shots on target 6
9 shots off target 4
13 fouls committed 22
7 corners 2
4 offsides 5
00 ball possession 00
Previous meetings between Inter and English clubs

Inter have met English sides in European cup competitions on 20 occasions. Of those matches, the Nerazzurri have won 7, drawn 4 and lost 9. Inter have also played 4 Anglo-Italian matches (1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat).

Previous meetings between Newcastle and Italian clubs

Newcastle have played 3 two-legged traditional European cup competition ties against Italian sides, and in the 6 individual matches have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2. The Tyneside Bianconeri haven't let in a single goal in the 3 home matches. Newcastle have also played 9 Anglo-Italian cup matches, registering 5 victories, 2 draws and 2 defeats. In a total of 7 European matches played against Italian sides at St. James' Park, the only club to have returned to Italy victorious was Ascoli, thanks to a winning goal by Oliver Bierhoff.

Previous meetings between Newcastle and Inter

Newcastle have met Inter in European cup competitions on two previous occasions - Inter 1-1 Newcastle, Newcastle 2-0 Inter in a two-legged UEFA/Fairs Cup first round tie in 1970/71.
Cella (I) and Davies (N) scored in the goals in the 1-1 draw in Milan, while Moncour and Dayson eliminated the Nerazzurri with goals in the return leg in Newcastle.

Crespo a goal away from equalling Boninsegna's record

After breaking Mazzola's record of 7 goals for Inter in a single edition of the European Cup/Champions League (in 1963/64), South American striker Hernan Crespo is just a goal away from equalling Boninsegna's record of 9 goals for Inter in Europe (in the 1969/70 Fairs/UEFA Cup).

Inter unbeaten for 7 European matches away from home

Inter haven't lost an away match in European cup competitions since 22 November 2001, when the Nerazzurri were beaten 1-0 away to Ipswich Town. Since then, Hector Cuper's side have registered 2 victories and 5 draws on the road - a record series of positive results for the club in Europe.

No draw for Newcastle in 8 European matches at home

Newcastle United have won 5 and lost 3 of their last 8 European games. The last time the English club drew a European match played at St. James' Park was an Intertoto clash against French side Troyes in August 2001, which finished 4-4.

Ony 1 victory for Inter in England, no goal for 310 minutes

The Nerazzurri have won only 1 official European match played in England - Norwich City 0-1 Inter in the UEFA Cup on 24 November 1993. Inter have drawn 3 and lost 8 of their other matches. The match against Norwich was also the last time Inter scored against an English side. On that occasion it was Bergkamp who scored for the Nerazzurri with an 80th-minute penalty. Taking into consideration the final 10 minutes against Norwich, the 120 minutes against Aston Villa and the two-legged matches against Manchester United and Ipswich, Inter haven't scored in England for 310 minutes of competitive football.

wins(1) draws(0) defeats(0)

starting lineups

GIVEN 1 Toldo
GRIFFIN 4 Zanetti
DABIZAS 23 Materazzi
O'BRIEN 13 Cannavaro
HUGHES 26 Pasquale
SOLANO 10 Morfeo
DYER 25 Almeyda
SPEED 22 Okan
VIANA 5 Emre
BELLAMY 9 Crespo
SHEARER 32 Vieri

substitutes

HARPER 12 Fontana
JENAS 2 Cordoba
CALDWELL 77 Coco
ROBERT 14 Di Biagio
ACUÑA 24 Gamarra
AMEOBI 18 Dalmat
LUALUA 20 Recoba