The United 'classic' that never was
YOU wouldn't think the Intertoto Cup has thrown up too many classics involving English teams.
But The Times yesterday named the "Greatest English Intertoto Cup matches", and Newcastle United's remarkable 4-4 home draw against Troyes almost seven years ago came in at No 4.
Like everyone at St James's Park that night, I remember it well, but not for the right reasons.
Having somehow left the Stade de L'Aube with a goalless draw in the first-leg of the final, thanks in large part to Shay Given's heroics in goal, you'd have thought Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle – who had beaten Sporting Lokeren and 1860 Munich in the previous rounds – had done the hard part.
And Nolberto Solano's second-minute opener had United's fans dreaming of a run in the UEFA Cup.
But, as ever with Newcastle, things unravelled in spectacular style, and by the 61st minute they were 4-1 down.
A late comeback, capped by Robbie Elliott's 90th-minute equaliser, wasn't enough to undo the damage, and United went out on the away goals rule.
A classic? Maybe for the neutral, but it's not a game I'll remember with any affection.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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