00:02Newcastle United have waited a long time for nights like this at St. James's Park
00:06but UEFA Champions League debuts don't come much tougher with Barcelona and
00:10their legion of stars in town but if Tino Esprija can repeat his man of the
00:14match performance in their qualifying win over Creos de Zagreb and who knows what
00:18might happen here. Steve Watson, Esprija touches off to Barnes, this is
00:26John Dalthomassen who's running off the shoulder, the finish didn't really match
00:30the build-up it's a good diagonal run from the Danish striker
00:34putting the ends, he found himself inside the box, it was a fairly weak finish by
00:39his standards
00:42there's Rob Lee, Tomasen with a deeper position now and Esprija is in, Esprija goes down
00:51that's a Newcastle penalty, Ruudhesp looks bemused but the
00:56referee points to the spot and St. James's Park comes alive
01:01Tino Esprija knocked the ball around the goalkeeper
01:06he couldn't stop his slide really, there was no actual effort to took him over but
01:13over he went and Tino Esprija puts the ball on the spot
01:20St. James's Park waits, and Esprija scores, just listen to that
01:32Newcastle's first UEFA Champions League goal comes from their talismanic striker, Ruudhesp almost kept it out
01:43and there's a thing or two about succeeding in Europe
01:49there's keep Killespie, as Jansi's had to run, and Esprija, now they really are in dreamland
01:58out comes the somersault, because with just over half an hour gone, Newcastle are 2-0 up
02:06they can't believe it
02:09it's a peach of a cross, and Esprija just hung there in the air
02:14he got away from Sergi, and Esprija went right between the two defenders
02:18and already Luud van Gaal has plenty of notes to make
02:21he must be now, a little deeper in his half, but he still has the pace to get away from
02:29Sergi
02:31and he's still going, and it's another one in for Esprija
02:37quite incredible
02:38it's a hat-trick for Esprija, and Newcastle are now really in dreamland
02:46they lead Barcelona by three goals to nil, on their Champions League debut
02:53that if anything is an even better contact
02:56he got up early, and hung in the air
03:00and powered the header into the corner
03:05Barton, who's taken a leaf out of Gillespie's book
03:09Barcelona having a torrid time down this side, and Esprija's in there again
03:13this time Hesse does get down well
03:16beat Reisiger to the ball
03:19this time couldn't quite direct it past the Dutch goalkeeper
03:26every time Barcelona have it
03:28no black and white shorts around them
03:29Rivaldo loses out now to Esprija
03:31here's David Batty
03:35Esprija, he's turned away from Reisiger brilliantly
03:39and still going
03:43Halesford in support, decided to go himself, and why not?
03:49his name is being chanted around all four corners of St. James' Park
03:54he looks as stunned as some of the supporters
03:57Kenny Deglish, I'm not sure he can quite believe how well his side are doing
04:03Klicic
04:04into the corner, that's for Watson
04:08his introduction was given Barcelona, a little more impetus down that side
04:16so did to take it
04:20out of the way
04:21as far as Nadal, and that's Given who turns it over
04:26connected well enough down into the turf and looking to surprise the goalkeeper
04:31whose reactions
04:33whose reactions were sound
04:35let's watch this one all the way
04:40Dela Pena
04:43patty
04:44just sit down, Newcastle clear Dela Pena again
04:47Rivaldo
04:48and this is Figo
04:50and Enrique
04:52and Barcelona have one back
04:54Luis Enrique
04:55inside the final 20 minutes
05:00he's put it in with his chest
05:01but they all count
05:03and for the first time
05:06Barcelona
05:07are able to strike
05:09I haven't got him behind Newcastle's defence too many times
05:17Rivaldo to Luis Enrique
05:19and here's Cicic again
05:20Rivaldo was waiting
05:22that's a fine save from Given
05:24and the whistle has gone
05:26and the whistle has gone
05:27I think we're offside in the middle against
05:28Vigo by Pierluigi Colina
05:31this was a lovely strike
05:33and a great save too
05:34and a great save too
05:39again the build-up came from down that side
05:42Cicic
05:43and Sergei are combining well for Van Gaal's side
05:46still looks nervous though
05:50Barton's clearance
05:51it's a poor one
05:51there's Figo
05:54Rivaldo looking to juggle the ball through
05:55and might well do
05:56Pucock's in the way
06:00and out as far as Dela Pena again
06:02who slides it back in
06:03Beresford
06:04dived in on Cicic
06:06and that is going to be a free kick
06:07right on the edge of the box
06:11and being in control
06:12these are now nervy moments
06:13for Newcastle
06:15Rivaldo off the crossbar now
06:17as Barcelona
06:17surge back in the closing stages
06:21time is beginning to run out for them
06:24but eventually Newcastle
06:26do clear
06:28such a wonderful technique
06:30Given wouldn't have got anywhere near that
06:39it's too long
06:40it's too long
06:40Beresford puts it out
06:41for another corner
06:43wasn't quite sure where the threat was coming from
06:45and it's too long
06:48and it's too long
06:51and it's too long
06:51and it's too long
06:52surgery again
06:54flick by Rivaldo
06:55off the line by Batti
06:57and then
06:58Dugarri is all over
06:59John Beresford
07:01Newcastle will get a chance to clear their lines
07:03but this is another let-off, the value of having a man on the line, on the line by
07:11David Batty's clearance, there goes Christophe Dugarri, and he's won Barcelona a corner,
07:21well it is their time, will Newcastle see off this late surge,
07:26fly from Hall's men, Figo to deliver, Nadal, he's in a lot of space, there it goes again by Barton,
07:39we're proud of doing their bit to try and help Newcastle over the line,
07:45from Shea Gibbon, he's quite got it, he's lost it again, cleared by Barton, only as far as Figo,
07:51and now they have got another back, well, a little over a minute to go,
07:58Shea Gibbon juggled it and lost it and Barcelona might just sense a final opportunity here,
08:05the clearance from Barton not quite good enough and drill back in,
08:11more late drama in a game which has seen Newcastle to lose for so long,
08:20Asprea, the clock runs down and the whistle goes, and it's a famous night at St James' Park,
08:27a Champions League debut to remember as Newcastle beat Barcelona thanks to Tino Asprea's hat-trick,
08:36None of those here will forget what they've seen in a hurry.
08:39.
08:39.
08:39.
08:39.
08:41.
08:41.
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