Awesome Alonso strike sinks Magpies
Alonso has now scored twice from his own half in his career
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Wednesday, 20, Sep 2006 11:07
Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso scored from inside his own half as Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-0 at Anfield.
Alonso, who produced a similar feat against Luton Town in the FA Cup third round last year, spotted goalkeeper Steve Harper off his line and planted the ball over his head to add to Dirk Kuyt's opening effort.
The home side had suffered back-to-back defeats against rivals Everton and Chelsea and they needed to win to avoid their worst ever start to a Premiership season.
However, their nerves could have been eased early on if Craig Bellamy had not shot straight at Harper, in for the injured Shay Given.
Luis Garcia followed this up with an effort straight at the goalkeeper minutes later but Newcastle looked equally ineffective in front of goal, restricted to a couple of long-range efforts.
It was Liverpool who finally broke the deadlock on 29 minutes as Dutchman Kuyt, signed for £10 million last month, slid in to connect with Steve Finnan's low cross to grab his first goal for the club.
The ex-Feyenoord striker, who Newcastle were also in the running to sign, could have had a second when he wasted Garcia's pull-back early in the second half before the Spaniard came within millimetres of getting himself on the scoresheet when his volley came back off the post.
However, it was another Spanish international who stole the show as Alonso looked up in the 79th minute from inside his own half and floated the ball over the head of the desperate Harper.