Goal king Alan Shearer sent Newcastle through to a second successive FA Cup
final with a double blast in extra-time - courtesy at an emotionally charged Old
Trafford.
Shearer put Newcastle on the way to making amends for last season's defeat by
Arsenal at the twin towers when he sent Tottenham goalkeeper Ian Walker the
wrong way with his penalty in the 10th minute of extra time.
It came about after Campbell, a solid rock at the heart of the Tottenham
defence all afternoon, had handled after Gary Speed had played a one-two in the
danger area with Duncan Ferguson.
Campbell escaped with a yellow card from Paul Durkin but up stepped Shearer to
send the 25,000 Geordie fans in the North Stand wild with delight.
Then with two minutes left Shearer sealed the game when his shot from the
angle of the area rocketed past Walker into the top corner of the net - and
sparked the start of a North East party.
Few would have imagined that would be the outcome given the way Tottenham
controlled the opening 45 minutes.
But Newcastle gradually built up momentum and the goal had been coming for
some time before Shearer's one-two ended George Graham's chances of a trophy
double in his first season at White Hart Lane.
At the final whistle Shearer was hugged by Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit, who
won the Fa Cup with Chelsea three years ago, after setting up a clash with the
winners of Wednesday's replay between Manchester United and Arsenal.
Shearer has had to put with suggestions that he is no longer the force he was
since his lengthy injury lay-off but on the big occasion he delivered yet
again.
Victory will also enable Newcastle to silence the jibes over being awarded a
UEFA Cup place for merely reaching the last four of the FA Cup - with the chance
now there to try and win it for the seventh time.
After a less than immaculately observed minute's silence to mark the tenth
anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, Tottenham came out of the starting
blocks as if they intended to wrap the game up in double quick time.
They initially played with the confidence of a side who already had some
silverware in the White Hart Lane trophy cabinet after last month's Worthington
Cup final triumph over Leicester City.
Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was called into spectacular action after only
two minutes to fingertip over a 25- yard effort from Darren Anderton, which was
heading for the top corner of the net.
Chris Armstrong, who was preferred upfront to Steffen Iversen, then flung
himself at a Darren Anderton corner but saw his header flash wide.
The bulk of the adventurous football came from George Graham's side in the
opening 45 minutes with the overlapping Steven Carr having acres of space on the
right flank.
David Ginola found himself closely policed by Andrew Griffin and the
experienced Robert Lee, but still managed to get in several crosses although
there was little in the way of a tangible end product.
That was due in no small way to the performance of central defender Steve
Howey and it was a massive loss for the Geordies when he was stretchered off
with a recurrence of a calf injury after 34 minutes.
After Tottenham's early surge, clear-cut chances were at a premium in the
first half but Newcastle seldom ventured forward with any conviction, although
Nolberto Solano flashed a low 25-yard effort just past the post.
The preoccupation of Griffin and Lee in containing Ginola severely reduced
their attacking options.
Tottenham continued in the same vein at the start of the second period despite
the loss of the impressive Anderton with a leg injury, which he sustained when
slipping in the first half on the greasy surface.
Campbell crept in unmarked at the near post to send a header from Carr's
free-kick into the side netting.
Then Tottenham had appeals for a penalty turned down after claiming Dabizas
had handled a free-kick from Anderton's replacement Andy Sinton.
But after their sterile first half showing, Newcastle gradually started to ask
questions of the Tottenham defence.
Lee was given more licence to roam down the right and Alan Shearer started to
make his presence felt while Gary Speed began exerting more influence in the
middle of the park.
It was Speed who had one of Newcastle's best chances when he found himself
unmarked to get on the end of a Solano free-kick, but he sent his header wide.
Suddenly it was Newcastle who looked as if they had more conviction and the
entrance of Duncan Ferguson for the first time since December in the 76th
minute, was greeted with a massive roar from the 25,000 Geordie fans.
At the same time Tottenham's most potent weapon Ginola was withdrawn, although
in truth he had been anonymous in the second half - and from that moment the
balance of play switched towards Gullit's men.
Shearer curled a powerful free-kick over the Tottenham wall but straight at
Ian Walker as Newcastle finished the 90 minutes looking the more purposeful,
That trait continued in the first period of extra time with a dummy by Shearer
allowing Ferguson a run at goal and his resulting left-footed shot was
finger-tipped around the post by Walker.
Play began to open up as limbs became weary and Tottenham's Worthington Cup
hero Allan Nielsen lacked composure when he drilled his shot wide when in space
on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area.
But then Shearer twice struck gold although in between his two goals Iversen
and Armstrong had chances to bring Spurs back into the hunt.
Teams
Newcastle: Given, Griffin, Hamann, Solano (Ferguson 75), Shearer,
Lee, Barton, Ketsbaia (Maric 105), Speed, Howey (Hughes 36),Dabizas.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Saha.
Booked: Griffin, Maric.
Goals: Shearer 109 pen, 118.
Tottenham: Walker, Carr, Freund, Anderton (Sinton 50), Ferdinand,
Armstrong, Ginola (Iversen 75), Taricco, Campbell, Sherwood,
Young, Sinton (Nielsen 83).
Subs Not Used: Baardsen, King.
Booked: Taricco, Sinton, Campbell, Young.
Att: 53,609
Ref: P Durkin (Portland).
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