Sammy Ameobi picked the perfect moment to score his first Newcastle goal and send the Magpies through to the third round of the Carling Cup with a 2-1 win after extra time at Scunthorpe.
Ameobi, the younger brother of Magpies stalwart Shola, spared his side's blushes with a 113th-minute winner in a contest the Premier League side had been second best in for long periods.
Scunthorpe, without a win in League One, looked like pulling off a shock when they led deep into normal time thanks to Chris Dagnall's 14th-minute opener. But after Newcastle had spurned chance after chance in the second half, most notably Leon Best, Ryan Taylor fired in his second free-kick in as many games on 80 minutes to force extra time.
Dagnall had already given a warning of his threat before his opener when he arrowed a drive just past the left-hand post.
He proved more deadly from close range after 14 minutes. After the Newcastle defence failed to clear the initial danger the diminutive striker was perfectly placed in the six-yard box to receive a knock down and turn in from close range.
Newcastle's first shot did not arrive until the 22nd minute, when Ryan Taylor fizzed a free-kick wide, and it preceded a good spell for the visitors.
Peter Lovenkrands and Yohan Cabaye tried their luck from distance, but the pressure subsided too easily and the visitors were lucky not to go 2-0 down on 40 minutes. Goalkeeper Tim Krul made a fine reflex save above his head to deny Jimmy Ryan after he had been found unmarked by Dagnall's cut back.
The Magpies were dealt another blow just before the break when Mike Williamson limped off with a leg injury and was replaced by Steven Taylor.
Ryan Taylor equalised 10 minutes from the end with his second memorable free-kick in as many games. The full-back crashed in the winner against derby rivals Sunderland at the weekend and it was another unerring set-piece from 20 yards that levelled matters.
Substitute Ameobi then proved the match winner with a stunning 20-yard goal to the delight of the Magpies fans behind the goal.
Source: PA
