---
title: "16 years and a day since Newcastle suffered UEFA Cup humiliation"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2021/04/15/16-years-day-newcastle-suffered-uefa-cup-humiliation/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2021-04-15T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-04-15T07:00:00Z"
---

# 16 years and a day since Newcastle suffered UEFA Cup humiliation

It’s been 16 years and a day since Newcastle suffered humiliation in the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup, throwing away a 2-0 aggregate lead to Sporting Lisbon and [conceding four goals in the second leg](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4437539.stm) at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

![](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2021/04/20210415_010712-1024x475.jpg)

From David Potter’s ‘Newcastle United On This Day – History, Facts & Figures from Everty Day of the Year’

Newcastle put themselves in pole position to progress after [winning 1-0 in the first leg](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4415265.stm), courtesy of a goal from Alan Shearer, but things went to pieces in Portugal after a dream start.

Kieron Dyer gave Newcastle the lead at the Jose Alvalade, putting them 2-0 up on aggregate, but the game swung before the restart. Marius Niculae levelled the game before half-time and Sa Pinto scored midway through the second-half.

Newcastle would still be going through via the away goals rule, however, until Roberto Beto headed home to give Sporting an aggregate lead. Fabio Rochemback then bagged a fourth goal in injury time to put the tie to bed.

Sporting are certainly no slouches, but Newcastle threw away a brilliant opportunity to reach the final four. They were comfortable at 1-1 but couldn’t handle losing Dyer and soon fell apart.

***[In other news, revisit the time when Newcastle thrashed Man City at St James’ Park](https://readnewcastle.com/2021/04/14/on-this-day-newcastle-united-thrash-manchester-city-st-james-park/)***