MAGPIES TRIUMPH IN THRILLER

A BRACE by Peruvian star Nolberto Solano and a late goal by defender Aaron Hughes was enough to ensure Newcastle United a thrilling 3-2 Intertoto Cup victory against 1860 Munich.

The result will give Bobby Robson's team three crucial away goals for the return leg at St James' Park and The Magpies will now be hopeful of finishing the job off on Tyneside. 

Solano (pictured) opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a great individual goal that saw the diminutive winger skip past several Munich defenders before delicately chipping the ball over the advancing keeper.   

The Newcastle lead was doubled after the interval with Solano converting a 54th-minute penalty after Craig Bellamy was scythed down in the box.

1860 came to life after the second goal and, spurred on by the crowd, although the stadium was only half full, the home side began to cause United problems.

Former Bristol City player Paul Agostino immediately halved The Magpies' advantage with an acrobatic volley in the 55th-minute, much to the delight of the Lions supporters.

Munich piled on the pressure for an equaliser and it duly arrived in the 67th-minute, with Filip Tapalovic smashing into the roof of the net after a goalmouth scramble.

Just when it looked like the game was destined to end 2-2, up stepped young defender Aaron Hughes to head the decisive goal eight minutes from time.

Bobby Robson will leave the Olympic Stadium a relieved man after 1860 had struck the bar twice and created several openings and will be hoping that his back-line are not as generous in the return leg.  

To read the report from Aston Villa`s trip to Rennes, and a round-up from Wednesday`s Intertoto Cup action, click here.