Recalls Lomana Lualua
VS CHELSEA – 25TH APRIL 2004
A goal which displayed Shearer’s immense strength on the ball, his finish against Chelsea goes down as one demonstrating his entire striking repertoire. A 33-year-old Shearer held off World Cup winner Marcel Desailly, and then 30 yards from goal, spun the Frenchman before letting rip with a strike that beat Chelsea ‘keeper Ambrosio all ends up.
In the springtime sun, Shearer put on a masterclass of true centre-forward play. It was a consummate showing of strength, intelligence and finishing ability.
VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – 11TH
APRIL 1999
Deep into extra-time against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semifinal Shearer had given Newcastle the lead from the spot. Nine minutes later, he went one better and secured United’s passage to the final once again, striking across the ball and into the far corner of the net.
Shearer had been teed up on the edge of the area, and taking on a rather difficult strike, arrowed it past Spurs ‘keeper Ian Walker. Once again, it was sublime from Shearer. like Shearer saying I was a magician where you are like ‘Wow! These people are saying my name.’
“He always had time for youngsters.”
Lualua remains a cult hero on Tyneside for his backflip celebrations after scoring a goal.
However, he has revealed he almost joined Tottenham before making the long journey to the
North East from Essex.
“I wasn’t even going to Newcastle. I was going to Tottenham,” he added.
VS LEICESTER CITY – 2ND FEBRUARY 1997
On a night when Newcastle United completed one of their greatest comebacks of all time, unsurprisingly Alan Shearer had a part to play. Trailing 3-1 with 15 minutes remaining, Shearer drove an extremely powerful free-kick past the Leicester City rearguard.
That was to be his first goal on that particular evening which ended in him taking home the matchball following a remarkable comeback and 13-minute hat-trick. His piledriver from 20 yards remains the pick of the bunch.
VS PORTSMOUTH – 4TH FEBRUARY 2006
Shearer’s 201st Newcastle United goal was not his best in terms of the quality of the strike, toe-poking it past Dean Kiely after shrugging off former teammate Andy O’brien. However, it was the most significant, as in doing so he surpassed Jackie Milburn’s record of 200 goals for the club.
The veteran marksman latched onto a Shola Ameobi knock-down before going through on goal and managed to squeeze it under Kiely, sending St James’ Park into uproarious celebration.
“I was actually on my way to sign for Tottenham because Tottenham is the team I support. I was excited because I was going to Tottenham and suddenly Mick Wadsworth rang me and said ‘you are coming to Newcastle now.’
“Knowing that by mentioning Sir Bobby, because he had trained Ronaldo, I would be really excited. It just felt like roads kept on going and would never stop because that was my first time going up north. I was like: ‘Where are we going, man?’”