Olympiakos 1-3 Newcastle

Souness cautious despite win More Uefa Cup photos

Newcastle took control of their Uefa Cup tie after a first leg in which Olympiakos had two players sent off.

Alan Shearer converted a penalty after Grigoris Georgatos was controversially dismissed for a shove on Kieron Dyer.

Predag Djordjevic equalised with another penalty after an Andy O'Brien foul before Laurent Robert scored a brilliant left-footed free-kick.

Athanasios Kostoulas was sent off just before the break, while Patrick Kluivert scored from close range.

Olympiakos had not conceded a goal at home in Europe this season and Newcastle will now be confident of progressing through to the quarter-finals.

But it was far from straightforward for the visitors in the first half and they were helped considerably by the two dismissals.

The Greek side, celebrating their 80th birthday, settled quickly in front of their passionate crowd and Shay Given had to save from Georgatos.

But the match took a dramatic turn with Georgatos' red card after 11 minutes.

Antonios Nikopolidis made a fine one-handed save from Kieron Dyer but the ball looped up backwards towards goal.

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Dyer and Georgatos both competed for a header, with the Newcastle player making contact but failing to hit the target from six yards.

There appeared to be minimal contact - and certainly no intent on Georgatos' part - but the Olympiakos player was issued with a straight red card and Shearer made no mistake from 12 yards.

The Greek side trailed for only three minutes, Djordjevic profiting from another penalty decision by referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez after O'Brien's tangle with Ieroklis Stoltidis.

Olympiakos looked dangerous in attack but vulnerable from set-pieces and it required a brilliant goal-line clearance to prevent Shearer from scoring again.

The Newcastle striker met a Robert corner with a bullet header but Dimitrios Mavrogenidis made a brilliant clearance.

There was nothing anyone could do to prevent Robert's left-foot strike from curling around the wall and into the top corner of Nikopolidis' goal after the Frenchman had been fouled by Gabriel Schurrer.

The first half had one final twist, when Kostoulas was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card.

That ensured the referee was subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse at the half-time whistle and also had bottles hurled at him from the crowd.

After the dramatic opening 45 minutes, the second-half seemed relatively incident free.

Newcastle tried to take advantage of their numerical advantage; dominating possession, working the ball into space and probing for openings.

The home crowd continued to make a thunderous noise as they urged their team forward but Olympiakos understandably struggled to assert themselves.

And Newcastle scored again - substitute Milner made a brilliant run down the left before cutting the ball back for Kluivert to extend the visitors' lead.

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Olympiakos: Nikopolidis, Mavrogenidis, Schurrer, Kostoulas, Anatolakis, Maric, Stoltidis, Djordjevic (Kafes 76), Georgatos, Rivaldo (Giovanni 65), Okkas (Pantos 65).
Subs Not Used: Giannou, Castillo, Vallas, Filipakos.

Sent Off: Georgatos (11), Kostoulas (44).

Booked: Kostoulas, Djordjevic.

Goals: Djordjevic 16 pen.

Newcastle: Given, Carr, Andrew O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Dyer (Jenas 60), Butt, Faye (N'Zogbia 84), Robert (Milner 60), Shearer, Kluivert.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Ameobi, Taylor, Bowyer.

Booked: Andrew O'Brien, Carr.

Goals: Shearer 12 pen, Robert 34, Kluivert 69.

Att: 33,000

Ref: Arturo Dauden Ibanez (Spain).