Madeira stalemate for Magpies

Shola Ameobi came agonisingly close to firing Newcastle to an opening Europa League victory as the woodwork and Maritimo keeper Romain Salin combined to thwart him in a goalless draw.

The 30-year-old, captaining a much-changed side at the Estadio dos Barreiros, hit both the post and the crossbar and saw Salin block another effort on a frustrating evening for the Magpies in Madeira.

Midfielder Dan Gosling was also denied by an upright after Alan Pardew's men bounced back from a less than impressive start to their Group D campaign.

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