Spurs and Newcastle progress

  

Tottenham’s difficult week in Lyon ended on a dramatic high after Mousa Dembele fired his team in to the last 16 of the Europa League with a stunning last-minute strike to earn a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 win on aggregate. Maxime Gonalons, the Lyon captain, looked to have fired Lyon to the 1-0 win they required to advance with his first-half goal.

However, Dembele popped up in the 90th minute, hammering a blistering 25-yard strike past Remy Vercoutre to set up a mouth-watering third round tie against Inter Milan.Much of the pre-match focus had been on the nasty attack by a group of 50 locals which hospitalised three Spurs fans last night and Villas-Boas’ team looked like failing to give their vocal supporters a pick-me-up after a dire first half.

Dembele was one of the worst offenders. The Belgian’s passing, and that of Scott Parker, was very sloppy and Kyle Walker was given the runaround by Lisandro Lopez. Gareth Bale inspired Spurs to a first leg win with two stunning free-kicks, but he missed a golden chance to give Spurs a crucial goal in the second half, side-footing wide while unmarked.That looked like being it for the Londoners, but Dembele provided the magic they required with just 30 seconds remaining. Clint Dempsey had gone close twice soon after his introduction, and it seemed Spurs were destined to fail. Dembele had other ideas, however, dropping his shoulder to beat the defender before hitting a powerful long-range shot beyond Vercoutre in the Lyon goal.

In Kharkiv, Shola Ameobi fired Newcastle into the last 16 of the Europa League from the penalty spot as the Magpies kept their cool to defeat Metalist 1-0 on the night and 1-0 on aggregate. Ameobi’s 15th European goal — only Alan Shearer has scored more for the club — came after midfielder Moussa Sissoko had been tripped by goalkeeper Olexandr Goryainov.

The striker calmly converted from 12 yards to silence a packed house at the Metalist Stadium. It was no more than the Magpies, who had two goals disallowed in last week’s scoreless draw on Tyneside, deserved from a spirited display, although goalkeeper Tim Krul, who had denied substitute Willian six minutes later, also had to pull off a stunning double save to keep out Jonathan Cristaldo 13 minutes from time.Alan Pardew’s men will now turn their attention to securing a second victory in four days when Southampton head for St James’ Park in the Premier League on Sunday, but knowing they are safely through to the last 16 to face either Anzhi Makhachkala or Hannover.

After dominating for long spells, the Magpies made the breakthrough with 26 minutes remaining when Sissoko’s industry was finally rewarded. The midfielder chased down a poor back-pass by defender Papa Gueye and in his efforts to rescue the situation, Goryainov tripped the Newcastle man.
Belgian referee Serge Gumienny pointed straight to the spot and after Sissoko had received treatment, Ameobi kept his nerve to send the goalkeeper the wrong way.

His strike was greeted by a deafening silence as the 500 travelling fans celebrated knowing their side had one foot in the last 16. But if they needed a reminder that there was work still to be done, Krul had to come from his line to deny Willian with 20 minutes remaining as Myron Markevich’s men launched a late assault.The Dutchman excelled once again seven minutes later to prevent Cristaldo from levelling twice within seconds as Pardew’s men held firm to secure the victory they wanted.