Basel 2 Newcastle 3
Shola Ameobi proved the man for the big occasion in Switzerland as he fired Newcastle to UEFA Cup victory over FC Basel in a five-goal thriller.
The England Under-21 international, who had earlier missed a good opportunity to get his name on to the scoresheet, left defender Marco Zwyssig for dead on 75 minutes to shoot past `keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler and hand the Magpies a deserved first leg victory over the runaway leaders of the Swiss league.
But the visitors twice had to come from behind in a whirlwind first half which saw Christian Gross' men fly out of the blocks. Mario Cantaluppi opened the scoring with an 11th-minute missile, and after Laurent Robert had levelled within two minutes, the hugely impressive Scott Chipperfield restored their advantage as the United defence wilted.
Titus Bramble handed his side a lifeline eight minutes before the break, and then set the scene for a much-improved display with the former Ipswich defender in particular standing up to be counted. There were a few more scares along the way, although Sir Bobby Robson's men might have won it more comfortably, but they will happily settle for the first leg advantage Ameobi claimed for them.
Newcastle will feel they have edged a step closer to the third round with the home leg to come in three weeks' time, although no-one at St James' Park will need reminding that they returned from Partizan Belgrade with a 1-0 lead in their Champions League qualifier and eventually went out of the competition on penalties.
The theme for United as they ran out against a side which beat Celtic, Spartak Moscow, Deportivo La Coruna and Juventus in Champions League at the St Jakob Park Stadium last season, was defensive solidity, but Robson's words seemed to evaporate within minutes of the kick-off. The Magpies were shaking almost from the off as the lively Chipperfield caused problems in midfield and front two Christian Gimenez and Marco Streller terrorised the United rearguard.
However, it was Cantaluppi who scored with just 11 minutes gone when he latched on to a weak clearance by Jermaine Jenas, who had passed a late fitness test minutes before the game started but looked decidedly uncomfortable, and hammered an unstoppable drive past Shay Given. The Irishman was beaten for a second time four minutes later when the unfortunate Jenas saw Chipperfield's goal-bound shot clip his legs and evade the keeper's grasp.
But just as United's defenders were suffering in Switzerland, so too were their opposite numbers and Robert had already cancelled out Cantaluppi's effort by the time Chipperfield struck. It was Ameobi's perfectly weighted pass which put the Frenchman in on goal, but his early shot caught out `keeper Zuberbuhler, who could only watch as the ball slipped inside his far post.
United desperately needed to slow the game down, but striker Marco Streller whistled another shot over and Bramble need to get in a superb challenge to prevent Gimenez from converting Chipperfield's near-post cross on 33 minutes. But as the visitors regained their composure, they started to gain a foothold in the game, and their resilience was rewarded eight minutes before the break when the home defence failed to clear a Robert corner and Bramble thumped home a half-volley to level.
Olivier Bernard went with inches of giving his side an unlikely lead with a long-range effort, but Given needed the help of a post to keep out Gimenez's looping header. The respective efforts of the two managers at the break appeared to have had widely differing effects as Basel struggled to repeat their first half performance while United stepped up a gear.
Indeed, for the opening 20 minutes of the second period, it was the visitors who looked the more likely winners with Ameobi squandering a golden opportunity on 57 minutes after Robert picked him out unmarked in the middle.
Dangerman Hakan Yakin made way after an indifferent hour for Argentinian striker Julio Hernan Rossi, and his introduction gave new impetus to the Swiss league leaders. He won a corner within seconds of his arrival and Solano had to clear a Murat Yakin header off the line as his defenders once again failed to deal with the initial ball in.
However, Rossi wasted another superb Chipperfield cross when he headed high over and Bramble, who was enjoying a much better second half, had to flick Streller's ball away from Gimenez. Given got down well to save Thimothee Atouba's 73rd-minute volley, and within two minutes his side took the lead for the first time.
Atouba's loose pass allowed Solano time and space to pick out Ameobi on the edge of the penalty area, and he twisted and turned his way past the mesmerised Zwyssig before firing left-footed past Zuberbuhler. The 1,000 or so travelling fans in the stadium had their hearts in their mouths three minutes from time when Cantaluppi broke into the box and unleashed a low drive, but again Given was equal to the task.