Saturday, March 13, 1999

Andy Cole returned to Tyneside and revived memories of the scoring touch that made him a hero with the Toon Army. But this time there was no celebrating among the home fans as Cole struck the two goals that kept the Old Trafford side on course for the treble.

Cole struck in each half as Alex Ferguson's men came from a goal down to set up their European Cup trip to Inter Milan on Wednesday in style. Newcastle flattered when they took the lead through a Nolberto Solano free-kick and their ideas could not match their effort.

The pitch, resembling a sponge pudding, dictated the pattern of the play. Efforts to keep the ball on the ground paid few dividends but, after a spell of innocuous interchanging, the game suddenly sprung to life around the quarter-hour mark.

First, Cole took a pass from Yorke and fired in a rising shot that thudded into Shay Given's hands as the Newcastle 'keeper got everything behind the ball. But that flash of activity spawned action of a much more significant kind in the next minute when Newcastle went ahead with a superbly worked free-kick.

Jaap Stam brought down Didi Hamann five yards outside the penalty area and it was anybody's guess who would get the strike as Alan Shearer, Hamann and Solano lined up behind the ball.

But Shearer's quick dart forward broke United's concentration long enough for the little Peruvian to follow up and bend a right-footer around the wall and in off Peter Schmeichel's left-hand post with the big Dane completely stranded by the accuracy of the effort.

George Georgiadis was booked for bringing down David Beckham, an incident which did little to appease the home crowd who - in keeping with every other opposition ground - gave the Manchester midfielder unmerciful stick whenever he touched the ball.

But Beckham at least had the satisfaction of joining in the visitors' joy when Cole marked his return to Tyneside with a 25th-minute equaliser.

Gary Neville's long throw was headed on by Henning Berg to the back post where Yorke scrambled the ball through a ruck in the goalmouth for Cole to shoot into the roof of the net.

Roy Keane thundered another 30-yarder into Given's body in the 37th minute and a minute later Shearer just failed to get maximum power behind a Didier Domi cross and the ball flew wide of the mark.

There was a shock when the visitors re-appeared after the break with Raimond Van der Gouw between the posts instead of Schmeichel. Newcastle also made a change with Robert Lee, deposed as captain by Shearer, taking over from Georgiadis.

But it was Manchester who made a telling change to the scoreline when they took the lead six minutes after the break. Beckham and Giggs combined down the left and when the Wales winger's cross came over, Cole nipped in front of Given to lift the ball confidently into the net.

Newcastle brought on Louis Saha in the 61st minute for Temuri Ketsbaia as the home side exploited all attacking options and the visitors sought to tighten the game by bringing on Ronny Johnsen for Giggs in the 74th minute.

In between, Denis Irwin was booked and fortunate not to be sent off when he protested about a corner kick and maintained his tirade to the extent that referee David Elleray had to calm him down.

Silvio Maric replaced Warren Barton seven minutes from the end and the Croatia international almost got his name on the scoresheet when he reached a Lee effort and diverted the ball, but Van der Gouw was equal to the test.

Phil Neville took over from the hard-working Paul Scholes in the 87th minute as United closed the game down to take the points home to Manchester.

Beckham on cue to inspire the triple