Rangers 1 Newcastle 1

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At Ibrox

 

 

Rangers 1 (McCulloch 6pen)

Newcastle United 1 (Shola Ameobi 90)

 

Shola Ameobi bagged a last-gasp equaliser to earn Newcastle United a 1-1 pre-season friendly draw away at Rangers on Tuesday night.

The big front man, a second-half substitute, dinked a clinical finish over Gers' stopper Cammy Bell with seconds remaining, after being set up by brother Sammy.

It looked as though the Magpies were heading for defeat, with Lee McCulloch's early penalty separating the sides at Ibrox

The home skipper stroked home following a foul by Fabricio Coloccini on Nicky Clark but the Magpies slowly found their feet and Mathieu Debuchy, Yohan Cabaye and Davide Santon all threatened an equaliser before half-time.

After the break, Debuchy, along with substitute Dan Gosling could have levelled but United kept knocking on the door and Shola Ameobi had the last laugh.

Rangers made a bright start and were rewarded inside the opening six minutes as captain McCulloch slotted them ahead from the penalty spot.

As midfielder Clark broke into the area he tumbled under the challenge of Coloccini. Referee Steven McLean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and McCulloch did the rest, drilling low into the corner.

United attempted an immediate response and Hatem Ben Arfa curled over the top from a tight angle, before Jonas Gutierrez saw a strike deflected behind.

And they were almost level in spectacular fashion on 12 minutes with a corner routine straight off the training ground.

As a cluster of players made runs towards the near post, Cabaye floated the set piece deep to the edge of the area where it was met by fellow countryman Debuchy.

The right-back met it on the volley but Rangers stopper Cammy Bell stood firm to parry the fierce effort to safety.

Cabaye took matters into his own hands in the 20th minute, letting fly from distance with a shot that was inches away from finding the top corner, while Santon tried his luck from a similar distance but was denied by Bell.

Since going behind, United had been the better side but just past the half hour mark the hosts offered a reminder of their threat.

Lee Wallace's run down the left took him clear of Ben Arfa and Debuchy, before teeing up Jon Daly, who skipped past Steven Taylor but couldn't beat Tim Krul.

Manager Alan Pardew made two changes at the break, replacing Ben Arfa and Krul with Gouffran and Elliot, and the latter was immediately called into action, impressively tipping over Clark's rising drive.

The game then became a scrappy affair with neither goal seriously under threat, as both sides struggled to keep possession for long periods.

Paul Dummett and Sylvain Marveaux also entered the fray for the Magpies, and Marveaux set up Debuchy for an ambitious effort which the Frenchman was unable to keep down.

Replacement Shola Ameobi had two sights of goal as United went in search of a late equaliser but his low shot and then a glancing header were unable to trouble Bell.

And when Dan Gosling's low cross took a wicked deflection but still couldn't sneak in, it looked like it just wasn't going to be United's night.

However, Shola Ameobi had other ideas. As the clock ticked away Rangers surrendered possession inside their own half.

Sammy Ameobi picked up the loose ball and instantly fed older brother Shola, who duly clipped it over the onrushing Bell to send the travelling fans wild.

 

Rangers (4-4-2): Cammy Bell; Richard Foster, Lee McCulloch (Sebastien Faure 46), Belil Mohsni, Lee Wallace (Chris Hegarty 69); Arnold Peralta (Fraser Aird 78), Ian Black (Andy Murdoch 55), Lewis Macleod (Robbie Crawford 46), Nicky Law (Kyle McAusland 63); Nicky Clark, Jon Daly (Andrew Little 58)

Subs not used: Scott Gallacher, Barrie McKay, Luca Gasparotto, Andy Mitchell

 

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul (Rob Elliot 46); Mathieu Debuchy, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c) (Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 73), Davide Santon (Paul Dummett 64); Cheick Tiote (Vurnon Anita 73), Yohan Cabaye (Dan Gosling 80); Hatem Ben Arfa (Yoan Gouffran 46), Moussa Sissoko (Sylvain Marveaux 64), Jonas Gutierrez (Sammy Ameobi 80); Papiss Cisse (Shola Ameobi 73)

Subs not used: n/a

 

Referee: Steven McLean