Second-half stroll to victory after Magpies survive a scary opening
QUALITY COMES TO THE FORE AS BRUNO AND NEW BOY BOTMAN STAND OUT
NEWCASTLE United strolled to a comfortable victory at the Saalfelden Arena as they swept 1860 Munich aside.
True, the Magpies survived a couple of first-half scares and could have been behind at the break but the quality shone through after the interval as goals from Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes earned a good preseason win.
The game was played with the spectacular backdrop of the Leogang Mountains in the breathtaking Alps with Eddie Howe’s Magpies preparing to start their own huge climb in the Premier League. Howe’s side kicked off in temperatures of 23 degrees and the forecasted rain did not materialise in the first half as fans supped pints of the local brew in the sunshine.
United took just two minutes to force their first attack when Allan Saint-maximin linked up well with Elliot Anderson, but the youngster’s ball into the box was cleared by 1860 Munich. A succession of corners followed but Newcastle were unable to test goalkeeper Marco Hiller.
The German side then threatened with six minutes gone when Martin Kobynlanski whipped the ball in from the left with Albion Vrenzi failing to connect and Nick Pope gathering gratefully. Jacob Murphy then put in a right-wing cross two minutes later but nobody in a black and white shirt could get on the end of it.
The side from Munich came dangerously close to an opener when Vrenzi headed inches wide of the post from a corner which came after an important clearance from Matt Targett on 10 minutes.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Kobylanski swung in a corner which Murphy headed clear at the front post before Tim Rieder’s attempt to dink it back was too heavy and rolled harmlessly out of play.
Murphy then won a free-kick high up the right-hand side and his quick set-piece rolled to Jonjo Shelvey was unfortunately scuffed wide by the former England international.
Newcastle conceded a dangerous free-kick in the D when Erik Talig was fouled with Pope forced into a fine save to deny Kobylanski. Jamaal Lascelles was then booked for a shove on an opponent with ref Reuf Salihovic losing patience after a series of fouls from the skipper.
Rieder then tried his luck from range on 29 minutes and it was attacking midfielder Anderson who flicked the ball to safety with a headed clearance. The game was stopped when Joe Willock collided with Stefan Lex and went down in agony but after some treatment, he got back on his feet.
A good cross from Emil Krafth on 39 minutes found Saint-maximin at the back post and his header was scooped away by Hiller in one of United’s best first-half opportunities.
The two sides went in level at halftime with 1860 Munich probably edging it in terms of creating the best chances.
Howe introduced Sven Botman at half-time with the Dutchman replacing Lascelles after a testing half for the skipper. The second half opened with a great chance for Newcastle as Anderson strode down the left and cut the ball back for Wilson.
But the number 9’s left-footed effort was curled over the bar from close range in what can only be described as a great chance. Willock then blazed over a chance three minutes later as 1860 Munich were fortunate to keep the game level.
The former Arsenal man should have scored on 53 minutes when Saint-maximin’s clever ball into the box picked him out but Willock saw his attempt beaten away by Hiler.
However, moments later Willock made amends when Shelvey got free down the right and cut the ball into the path of the Toon midfielder before he lashed home with his left
foot to give Newcastle the lead on 55 minutes.
Howe made a total of TEN changes just after the hour mark with the team lining up with Martin Dubravka in goal and a defence of Kieran Trippier, Botman, Fabian Schar and Paul Dummett. The midfield three consisted of Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton while Miguel Almiron, Ryan Fraser and Chris Wood made up the attack.
1860 also made a host of changes and finished with a different team in what was there final friendly before their season starts.
But the Newcastle duo of Bruno and Sean Longstaff combined well on 63 minutes when the South American rolled it to the Geordie in the penalty area.
Longstaff took a touch before rattling home a right-footed effort which left Hiller with no chance to make it 2-0.
It was 3-0 with 13 minutes left after great work from Bruno and Chris Wood. Bruno rolled the ball to the left-hand side to find the New Zealand striker before he unselfishly cut the ball back for the Brazil star to fire home with his right foot.
Almiron could have added another with five minutes left but clobbered an effort over the bar. Another opportunity for Almiron a few minutes later saw the Paraguay international overrun the ball down the right.
But Newcastle had done more than enough to claim a comfortable victory in what proved to be a second-half stroll, although the arrivals of Bruno and Botman made a big difference to the spine of the team.