Maritimo 0 Newcastle 0:SHOLA AMEOBI came agonisingly close to firing Newcastle to an opening Europa League victory as the woodwork and Maritimo goalkeeper Romain Salin combined to thwart him. 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 Newcastle in Madeira.

Midfielder Dan Gosling was also denied by an upright after Alan Pardew’s men bounced back from a less than impressive start. They were indebted to goalkeeper Rob Elliot, playing just his second game for the club, for two early saves, and he got down well 20 minutes from time to keep out dangerman Sami’s skidding strike, but he also needed the help of the bar when full-back Davide Santon headed Valentin Roberge’s late header against it.

Maritimo were simply too good and too slick for Pardew’s weakened side during the opening 25 minutes and, had it not been for Elliot, could have been in serious arrears. The former Charlton goalkeeper pulled off a fine reaction save to keep out Sami’s 11th-minute volley and then blocked with his legs from the same striker.

And Newcastle enjoyed a major escape eight minutes from time when Roberge connected with Rafael Miranda’s flick-on and Santon somehow managed to smuggle the ball away with the help of the goal-frame, and Elliot saved unconvincingly from substitute Goncalo at the death.

MARITIMO: Salin, Briguel, Joao Guilherme, Roberge, Luis Olim, Rafael Miranda, Joao Luiz, Heldon (Fidelis 54), David Simao (Goncalo Abreu 75), Sami, Danilo Dias (Adilson 82). Subs not used: Lima De Oliveira, Joao Diogo, Marcio Rosario, Igor Rossi. Booked: David Simao.

NEWCASTLE: Elliot, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor, Santon, Obertan (Marveaux80), Bigirimana, Gosling, Amalfitano (Ferguson 76), Shola Ameobi, Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi 53). Subs not used: Harper,Tavernier, Abeid, Campbell. Booked: Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Santon.

Referee: Robert Schorgenhofer (Austria).