Del Piero 2The Stadio del Alpi has produced a case of de ja vu for Sir Bobby Robson. Twelve years ago, then just plain Bobby, he saw his England side crash out of the World Cup semi-final to Germany. On Tuesday night it was same venue, different opposition but effectively the same result as Newcastle were left pointless at the bottom of their group with three defeats out of three games played.
But it could have been so different if Alan Shearer's goal, that should have levelled for the Magpies, after Del Piero's opener, had not been ruled out for Kieron Dyer being off-side.
The goal should have stood as Alan Shearer revealed after the game: "The referee admitted to me that he made a mistake and that the goal should have stood but it was too late then.'
That goal would have given Newcastle a lifeline, but they had earlier chances to have made the game more of a contest. Robert, who seems to be getting back to his great form of last season, before injury struck, had an early effort when he spotted Buffon off his line and floated a delicate chip goalwards, only to see it drift just over the bar.
Shortly afterwards Solano crossed from the right towards Alan Shearer and the skipper had more time than he thought as he lined up an acrobatic volley. Shearer didn't catch the ball properly and a very good chance, by his standards, was lost.
Newcastle could really have done with the lead at that stage, because shortly afterwards Juventus began to assert their obvious quality, with Trezeguet and the re-invigorated Del Piero being the visitors' main tormentors.
The Frenchman hooked in a superb right foot volley which had goal written all over it until Shay Given produced a fantastic tip-over for a corner. From the flag kick Trezeguet couldn't quite get a decisive touch after a near post flick-on from Igor Tudor. Given was then beaten by Del Piero but the Italian's superb left foot shot cracked against the bar with the keeper beaten.
Newcastle's best chance came just before the break and it really should have given them their first Champions League goal. Dyer broke down the right and cut the ball back from the line towards Shearer. The striker miscued his effort and the ball ran through to Robert who produced a fantastic adjustment to send a left foot volley goalwards from close range, but Buffon was able to punch clear.
Juventus had only lost three Champions League games out of 30 on their own ground, such was the magnitude of Newcastle's task, and Trezeguet continued to taunt the visitors. Only the intervention of Andy O'Brien prevented the striker from turning home a right wing cross from Thuram early in the second half, before he handed over centre stage to Del Piero.
It was a free kick, drawn from Dabizas, that gave the Italian his chance just past the hour. Indeed the infringement was so close to the 18-yard line that it was almost a spot-kick but, as it turned out, it was as good as a penalty when you have someone of the quality of Del Piero to take it.
The ball was placed just half a yard from the penalty area and Del Piero struck his shot over the wall with such pace and power that neither Given, nor the back-pedalling Dabizas, had a prayer of stopping it hitting the inside of the goal netting.
Not long afterwards Alan Shearer netted with a superb header across the face of goal but Kieron Dyer was retreating from a central position and was adjudged to be interfering and so the goal was disallowed. It was a case of so near yet so far and the next goal threat came from Juve, producing a second killer goal from Del Piero.
Nine minutes from time Edgar Davids raced down the left and crossed into the danger area, Trezuguet sold a dummy that was bought by the entire Newcastle defence, and Del Piero drove the ball home via the slightest of deflections off Andy OBrien to make it 2-0 and, very possibly, game, set and match as far as Newcastle's Champions League future is concerned.
Afterwards Sir Bobby Robson was philosophical, but still angry, over the goal that never was but should have been. He said. "I dont think Kieron Dyer was in an active position and the goal should have stood but that's the kind of luck you get in football.'
