Leading 2-0 on aggregate in Lisbon with an away goal to their fortune and holding a commanding position in the second leg of their UEFA Cup quarter final against Sporting Lisbon. What could possibly go wrong for Newcastle? Well, as it happens, everything! When Kieron Dyer poked us ahead mid-way through the second half we were firmly in the driving seat. After all, even with home advantage, Sporting had to overturn the two-goal shortfall by scoring three times if they were to progress and were up against an inspired Shay Given. But true to form Graeme Souness saw his side offer unconditional surrender to their Portuguese hosts in the second half after Marius Niculae had halved the deficit just before the break. Three more followed after the interval as Sporting relentlessly bombarded a fragile defence at every opportunity and we were left to rue a succession of missed chances that would have enabled us to close out the tie.
