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Fiorentina (Italy) (h) Friendly - Sela Cup Day 1
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Date: Saturday 5th August 2023, 3.30pm Venue: St.James' Park
Conditions: Unimpeded |
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Newcastle |
Fiorentina |
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2 - 0 |
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| Half time: | 1 - 0 | |
| Score Sheet: | ||
 (38) Almiron (82) Isak
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Teams |
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Dubravka Trippier A. Murphy Botman Targett Tonali L.Miley Anderson Almiron Isak Gordon |
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Cerofolini Biraghi Comuzzo Milenkovic Dodo Arthur Duncan Gonzalez Bonaventura Brekalo Cabral |
| Substitutes: | ||
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(80) Parkinson for L.Miley (88) Turner-Cooke for Almiron (88) Ndiweni for Isak |
Kayode
for
Dodo (46) Kouame for Gonzalez (72) Sabiri for Brekalo (72) Amatucci for Arthur (80) Ikone for Cabral (83) |
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| Subs not used: | ||
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Gillespie Smith Carlyon De Bolle Diallo Hackett Huntley McArthur J.Miley Savage |
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Martinelli Terracciano Infantino Jovic Kokorin Mandragora Martinez Quarta Munteanu Parisi Ranieri |
| Bookings: | ||
| None | Milenkovic | |
| Dismissals: | ||
| None | None | |
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Referee:
Michael
Oliver (Ashington). A homer, if ever there was one, Michael's
well-documented support of Newcastle means he's unable to officiate
in any competitive game involving them. |
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Attendance:
36,725 including around 15 away followers - who were
surrounded by almost as many stewards in the usual L7 visitor's
section.
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Goals |
38 mins
Domilson Do Santos carried the ball infield from the right just inside
the Newcastle half, but was easily dispossessed by Sven Botman. He played
a short forward pass to Alexander Isak, who pushed forward with two
opponents backtracking.
Reaching the box, he played the ball into the path of Miguel Almiron,
whose diagonal run took him past his marker and allowed him to take a
touch before cracking home a low right footer from about eight yards out. 1-0
Half time:
Newcastle 1 Fiorentina 0
82 mins
Isak's run down the left ended in him gaining a corner. Kieran Trippier's
delivery from the Strawberry Corner was met with a glancing header from Alexander
Isak into the far
side of goal. 2-0
Full time: Newcastle 2 Fiorentina 0
We Said |
Eddie Howe
said:"Good game, good opposition again - it certainly wasn't an easy game for us but I did think we created some good chances.
"There was some good passages of play and when we needed to, I thought we defended in the main pretty well. There were one or two moments in the first half, (we were) better second half defensively but exactly the type of test you want at this stage in our pre-season.
"You think they finished eighth in their league last year and were in the Conference League Final so (they are) a good team and a good squad
"No worries about the standard of the game for us we wanted an improvement drom our previous games in pre-season and we saw that today physically, technically and tactically.
"As always with pre-season games you hope you come through it with no injuries and fingers crossed we’ve done that.
"We have a few tired bodies after 90 minutes but I think
we’re looking stronger physically for the games that we’ve had
and I think with another week’s training we’ll get to our
optimal level.”
On Alex Murphy:
"He's done very well during pre-season and I think that the
beauty of his performances has been his versatility - he's played
left centre half, left back and today right side centre half and
he's predominantly left-footed so that's a bit of a challenge for
him.
"I thought he handled himself very well - I think it helps when
you've got Sven next to you one side and Kieran the other side. He
can be very pleased again with his performance."
On Sandro Tonali:
"Out of possession it was a step up in his recent
performances which was good to see. We are working on every aspect
of his game.
"For Sandro, the Premier League is different. He would have
found that in the few games he played in America where there was a
step up - just the speed, sharpness, where opponents place
themselves.
"We have to be solid defensively if we are to have success. He’s
a combiner, he’s going to need relationships to show his best
qualities.
"In time those will grow and we will see the player I know he
is going to be. He was very good today. I was pleased with Sandro,
he played as an 8 and a 6 and was composed in possession.”
On Lewis Miley:
"I think today was a really good experience for him, no doubt.
He is playing in front of a big crowd against top level opposition.
I thought he was getting a little bit tired towards the end so I
took him off to try to protect him.
"I think that is where I have to be with him. I have to protect
him and nurture his talent. These are important years for him, so we
have to push him and protect him at the same time. So hopefully I
can get that decision right."
They Said |
Vincenzo Italiano (who despite his surname was born in
Germany) said:
To follow....
Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was omitted from the squad amid speculation
over his sale. Also missing but in England was defender
Gaetano Castrovilli, who was due to sign for Bournemouth but
returned to Italy after failing his medical. Former Everton defender
Yerry Mina has signed but didn't travel.
The Viola have been coached by Italiano since 2021 and he
led his side to defeats last season in the finals of both the Copa Italia and the
Europa Conference - the latter losing to West Ham.
Following their two games at Gallowgate they face two more home
friendlies before a Serie A opener against Genoa on August
19th. Eighth place last season saw them qualify for the Europa Conference
League playoffs and they'll face opposition to be confirmed on August 24th and
31st.
Stats |
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1992 Sporting Lisbon (h) lost 3-5 (SJP) 1994 Manchester United (n) drew 1-1 (won 6-5 pens) (Ibrox) 1994 Sampdoria (n) lost 1-3 (Ibrox) 1997 PSV Eindhoven (n) won 3-2 (Dublin) 1997 Derry City (n) won 2-0 (Dublin) 1997 Chelsea (n) drew 1- (lost 1-3 pens) (Goodison) 1997 Ajax (n) lost 0-3 (Goodison) 1998 Benfica (n) drew 0-0 (lost 3-4 pens) (Boro) 1998 Boro (a) drew 1-1 (won 4-3 pens) (Boro) 2003 Birmingham City (n) won 2-1 (Kuala Lumpur) 2003 Chelsea (n) drew 0-0 (lost 4-5 pens) (Kuala Lumpur) 2004 Rangers (h) won 4-2 (SJP) 2004 Sporting Lisbon (h) lost 0-1 (SJP) 2008 Hertha Berlin (n) lost 0-1 (Mallorca) 2008 RCD Mallorca (a) lost 0-1 (Mallorca) 2012 Olympiakos (n) drew 1-1 (drew 4-4 pens) (Algarve) 2012 SC Braga (n) won 2-1 (Algarve) 2014 Malaga (n) lost 1-3 (Schalke) 2014 Schalke 04 (a) won 3-1 (Schalke) 2019 Wolves (n) lost 0-4 (China) 2019 West Ham (n) won 1-0 (China) 2023 Fiorentina (h) won 2-0 (SJP) Pre-season pitch time (in minutes): Almiron 0+62+45+78+0+88=273 +3 goals Anderson 72+45+45+0+90+90=342 +4 goals Ashby 26+28+0+5+59=118 +1 goal Barnes 0+0+20+0+89=109 Botman 0+45+45+90+0+90=270 Burn 83+45+45+90+0=263 Carlyon 0+0+0+0+0+0=0 Darlow 45+45+0=90 De Bolle 26+0+0+0+0+0=26 Diallo 0+0+0+0+0+0=0 Dubravka 0+0+90+45+0+90=225 Dummett 0+28+45+0+75=148 Gillespie 0+0+0+0+0+0=0 Gordon 0+45+45+90+0+90=270 Guimaraes 0+45+45+0+90=180 Hackett 0+0+0+0+0+0=0 Huntley 0+0+0+0+0+0=0 Isak 0+45+45+90+0+88=268 +2 goals Joelinton 0+0+45+85+0=130 Karius 45+45+0+0+0=90 Lascelles 0+0+45+0+81=126 Lewis 77+62+0+0+0=139 S.Longstaff 65+45+0+0+0=110 Manquillo 72+45+45+0+0=162 McArthur 0+0+0+0+0+0=0 J.Miley 7+0+0+0+1+0=8 L.Miley 26+45+45+90+31+80=317 A.Murphy 45+45+0+56+15+90=251 J.Murphy 0+0+45+0+90=135 Ndiweni 18+0+0+0+0+2=20 Parkinson 25+0+0+12+15+10=62 Pope 0+0+0+45+90=135 Ritchie 64+0+45+0+80=189 Saint-Maximin 64+0=64 +1 goal Savage 45+0+0+0+9+0=54 Schar 0+62+45+34+0=141 J.Smith 0+0+0+0+0+0=0 Targett 64+45+70+0+90+90=359 Tonali 0+45+45+90+0+90=270 Trippier 64+45+45+85+0+90=329 Turner-Cooke 18+0+0+5+10+2=35 +1 goal White 26+28+0+0+0=54 Wiggett 13+0+0+0+0=13 Wilson 0+45+45+0+75=165 +1 goal |
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Waffle |
Newcastle took pole position after day one of the Sela
Cup on Saturday, goals from Miguel Almiron and Alexander Isak
deservedly defeating their Serie A foes at St. James' Park.
With Tino Livramento looking on
Isak tested visiting goalkeeper Michele Cerofolini and Gordon shot narrowly wide before striking the Leazes End goal frame soon afterwards on 25 minutes.
The breakthrough came seven minutes before the interval; Isak pushing forward before laying off a pass that Miggy ran on to and confidently dispatched.
What attacking threat there was from Fiorentina came from Nicolas Gonzalez - the Argentinean right winger linked with a move to Tyneside in January and intent on showing United what they missed.
Aside from a couple of moments of self-created peril though - Kieran Trippier skidding one pass across his own goal - any further goals always looked like they would come at the other end.
Home debutant Sandro Tonali sent one free kick just wide of the target before Miggy robbed an opponent and saw his early shot blocked. Gordon then again seemed set to break his SJP duck, only to blaze over from Trippier's inviting 74th minute centre.
A second goal did belatedly arrive with eight minutes left, Trippier's flag kick from the Strawberry Corner met with a glancing header from Isak into the far side of goal.
That confirmed United's unbeaten pre-season record would extend to a sixth game and sent a crowd who had gained entrance via the club's new digital ticket scheme home happy. New card readers looked to have worked OK, although some problems arose after the card payment system failed.
That left anyone without cash unable to purchase food and drink and led to the club hastily issuing pass outs for fans to use cashpoints and visit local shops.
Back on the pitch and there were more encouraging contributions from Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley to cap a successful pre-season for both. Mention also to 19 year-old central defender Alex Murphy, who completed 90 minutes in the seniors for the first time and didn't look out of place.
Nice and Villarreal earlier drew 1-1 in the opening tie; Villarreal's Ben Brereton Diaz tucking away the rebound when his 51st minute penalty was saved, before Nice's Morgan Sanson equalised.
Saturday's results saw United top the group with five points (three for a win plus two for their goals scored). Nice and Villarreal sit behind on two points each, with Fiorentina still to get off the mark.
The visiting Italian press were merciless in their summary, one Florence-based reporter calling the Viola the "usual mess" in defence and "bungling" in attack.
Biffa