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You are in: Sport: Football: FA Carling Premiership | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sunday, 14 May, 2000, 18:09 GMT 19:09 UK
Shearer on song as Magpies win
![]() Newcastle's Alan Shearer clips the ball over Oleg Luzhny
Newcastle United 4-2 Arsenal
Alan Shearer smashed the 300th goal of his career to help Newcastle United end their season on a high with victory over Arsenal. The England skipper blasted home a 23rd-minute free-kick - his 30th of the season and his 199th in League football - in an open game against an under-strength Gunners side as United put on a party for their delighted fans.
Shearer's strike restored his side's lead, but Stefan Malz dragged the visitors back into it eight minutes after the break.
However, Arsene Wenger's back-up side could not hold on to their point, and Speed headed his 13th of the season to put Newcastle in front again before Andy Griffin sealed the victory with his first goal for the club. The win took Newcastle to 52 points, their biggest haul by far since they twice finished runners-up to Manchester United, and capped a remarkable turnaround under Bobby Robson. The 67-year-old manager joined his players on a lap of honour after the final whistle to rapturous applause while Arsenal were left to look forward to their big European test on Wednesday night.
United had already staged two promising attacks when they forged their way into the lead with only six minutes gone. Nolberto Solano's deep cross looked too high for Shearer at the far post, but the striker held off the challenge of Oleg Luzhny and flicked the ball over his shoulder for Speed to hammer a close-range shot past Manninger. Neat lob But if the home crowd had anticipated an early start to their end of season party, the cheers in their throats died within 50 seconds as Kanu chased down a hopeful ball over the top to find Given in no-man's land and powerless to keep out his neat lob.
Rob Lee tried to lift the ball over Vernazza 25 yards out, but the midfielder used his hand to cut out the pass and referee Graham Poll awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Shearer blasted an unstoppable drive through the defensive wall and into the top corner to spark fresh celebrations in the stands. Silvinho's introduction in place of Ray Parlour at half-time gave the visitors fresh impetus, and they were back on level terms within eight minutes. Kanu's pass gave Malz a run on goal and the midfielder managed to hold off Warren Barton's challenge to shoot past Given and into the bottom corner. The reverse seemed to inspire Newcastle once again, and the forced their way back in front with 59 minutes gone. Solano's right-wing corner was delivered perfectly for Speed to arrive to power a downward header past Manninger and up into the top corner. And there was even better to come when, four minutes later, Lee and Solano combined to put Griffin in on the keeper, and he lifted the ball over the Austrian to make it 4-2. There was no way back for Arsenal from there, and indeed, United could have added to their tally in a very open conclusion to an entertaining game. Teams: Newcastle: Given, Griffin, Howey, Dabizas, Barton, Solano, Dyer, Lee, Speed, Ketsbaia, Shearer. Subs: Perez, Goma, Maric, McClen, Gallacher. Arsenal: Manninger, Luzhny, Weston, Keown, Winterburn, Parlour, Vernazza, Malz, Cole, Kanu, Suker. Subs: Lukic, Silvinho, Black, McGovern, Gray. Referee: G Poll (Tring) |
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