John Beresford, who had not scored for a season and a half, struck twice last night to give Newcastle an evens chance of progressing to the Champions' League proper. However, it will take a polished performance in Zagreb in a fortnight because the Croatian champions showed they are a more than useful side. A thunderstorm an hour before kick-off had made the surface greasy, but the Croats settled quickly. Fortunately for Newcastle the visitors were forward in insufficient numbers to capitalise.
Newcastle began creating half-chances themselves, with Beresford getting a glance to a Steve Watson cross and Temur Ketsbaia almost profiting from a darting run similar to Viduka's. By the 21st minute, the home side scored.
A superb, clever goal it was, too, with Faustino Asprilla at its creative centre. Collecting Watson's short pass on the edge of the Zagreb area, he swivelled and feinted before slipping the ball between two blue shirts to Robert Lee. In on the goalkeeper, it seemed as though Lee would shoot, but he squared the ball to the left wing-back Beresford, who slid it home from five yards.
The Croat management must have wondered how their players would react, but they showed calm. With Prosinecki again dictating the play, Zagreb equalised in the 52nd minute. It was another fine, slick move with the Croatian wonder boy Maric, who has been promised already to Juventus, delivering the killer pass which Cvitanovic finished.
A typical clenched-fist gesture from David Batty, having a grand game, reawakened the home fans' enthusiasm. Then, with 15 minutes left, Asprilla jumped with goalkeeper Drazen Ladic for a cross, the ball spilled loose and Beresford tapped in his second.
Newcastle: Given, Pistone, Albert (Howey 67), Pearce, Lee, Batty, Ketsbaia, Beresford, Watson, Tomasson (Gillespie 56), Asprilla. Subs not used: Srnicek, Beardsley, Crawford, Pinas, Hughes. Booked: Lee. Goals: Beresford 22, 76.
NK Croatia Zagreb: Ladic, Krznar, Maric (Mujorin 89), Juric, Maldinic, Prosinecki, Viduka, Simic, Savic (Tomas 84), Cvitanovic, Jurcic. Subs not used: Ibirahimovic, Stefeful, Brlenic, Svitanovic, Petrovic. Booked: Ladic, Maldinic. Goal: Cvitanovic 52.
Referee: L Kronpl (Czech Republic).
