Shola Ameobi came agonisingly close to firing Newcastle to an opening Europa League victory as the woodwork and Maritimo keeper Romain Salin combined to thwart him in a goalless draw.
The 30-year-old, captaining a much-changed side at the Estadio dos Barreiros, hit both the post and the crossbar and saw Salin block another effort on a frustrating evening for the Magpies in Madeira.
Midfielder Dan Gosling was also denied by an upright after Alan Pardew's men bounced back from a less than impressive start to their Group D campaign.
Source: PA
