Shola Ameobi's second half goal earned ten-man Newcastle United a 1-1 draw in a bad-tempered friendly away at Pacos de Ferreira

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At the Estadio da Mata Real

Pacos de Ferreira 1 (Caetano 15)

Newcastle United 1 (Shola Ameob 60)

Shola Ameobi's second half goal earned ten-man Newcastle United a 1-1 draw in a bad-tempered friendly away at Pacos de Ferreira on Tuesday night.

The big front man notched his second goal in as many matches to cancel out Caetano's early opener for the Portuguese hosts.

But it was a double sending-off which was the game's main talking point, as Caetano and Magpies captain Fabricio Coloccini both received their marching orders for a first-half clash.

United had numerous chances to grab the victory, with substitute Haris Vuckic going closest late on as he struck the post.

Inside three minutes Shola Ameobi fired a warning shot, but saw his rising drive narrowly clear the crossbar after good work from Coloccini and Hatem Ben Arfa to create the chance.

Newcastle had done much of the early pressing but fell behind on 15 minutes when forward Caetano slotted home Jaime Poulson's cross from the left.

Ben Arfa and Shola Ameobi both went close as the Magpies pressed in search of an equaliser, while at the other end tempers flared between Mathieu Debuchy and Helder Lopes, with both players booked after a coming together.

The visitors were well on top and Steven Taylor saw his header from a Yohan Cabaye corner comfortably saved, but both sides were reduced to ten men with half-time approaching.

Coloccini and Caetano clashed while chasing a long ball over the top and it sparked a melee on the far side of the pitch. Caetano ended up on the floor, with referee Jorge Sousa producing red cards for both men.

Full-back Tony almost doubled Pacos' advantage early in the second half with a strike from wide on the right that fizzed just past the far post.

And he was left to rue that miss on the hour mark as Shola Ameobi deservedly pulled Newcastle level, thumping a powerful strike high into the roof of the net after good work down the left from fellow substitute Davide Santon.

On 71 minutes Santon continued his role as provider. This time, it appeared as though his delivery had missed everyone, but Mathieu Debuchy was steaming in from deep, only to lash high and wide.

Another replacement, Vuckic almost won it late on but headed Debuchy's cross against the woodwork, and the Slovenian midfielder then showed his quality at the other end, making a crucial goalline clearance to keep the Magpies on level terms.

Pacos de Ferreira (4-2-3-1): Antonio Filipe; Tony, Ruben, Roberto Dias, Helder Lopes; Andre Leao, Anunciacao (c); Manuel Jose, Sergio Oliveira, Caetano; Jaime Poulson

Substitutes: Matias Draga, Freitas, Vitor, Christian Irobiso, Rui Miguel, Hurtado, Nuno Santos, Ricardo, Fernando Neto, Rodrigo Antonio, Gino Guerrero, Sousa, Eridson

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Mathieu Debuchy (Paul Dummett 85), Steven Taylor (Mike Williamson 78), Fabricio Coloccini (c), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa; Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye (Jonas Gutierrez 46); Moussa Sissoko (Haris Vuckic 78), Hatem Ben Arfa (Davide Santon 46), Sammy Ameobi (Yoan Gouffran 46, Adam Campbell 87); Shola Ameobi (Sylvain Marveaux 73)

Sub not used: Jak Alnwick