Newcastle 1-1 Olympiakos (4-4 pens): Steven Taylor strike not enough to secure victory for Magpies in Algarve Cup
The defender's first-half strike was cancelled out after the break and the two sides could not be separated when the match went to penalty kicks after 90 minutes of play
By Oliver Platt
Newcastle United earned a 4-4 draw against Olympiakos in a penalty shoot-out that followed a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal.
Steven Taylor capped off his return from a long-term injury with a goal but Kostas Mitroglou scored a second-half equaliser to send the Algarve Cup game to penalties.
The Magpies defender underwent surgery on his Achilles' tendon in December but returned to convert from close range following good work from Dan Gosling.
Olympiakos had Francois Modesto sent off for two yellow cards but Mitroglou took advantage of Djamel Abdoun's wing play to equalise.
Papiss Cisse missed Newcastle's first penalty but Alan Pardew's men were flawless from then on and Abeid took advantage of Krul's save to level, with no conclusion needed due to tournament rules, with points won by goals scored.
Pardew named a relatively strong side, with Krul in goal and Taylor paired with Mike Williamson in central defence. Haris Vuckic and Shola Ameobi began the game in attack.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll, meanwhile, started for the Greek side and was first called into action after nine minutes when he did well to turn Ameobi's header around the post.
The striker turned creator to slide a ball into the feet of Vuckic after good work from Gabriel Obertan, but the young forward could not get full contact on his shot.
Carroll did not fare so well when Roman Amalfitano delivered a corner kick midway through the first half, failing to get the distance required on his punch. Gosling retrieved possession and drilled a low cross into the box that ricocheted into the path of Taylor, who converted from close range.
Gosling's night did not last much longer, with the former Everton midfielder replaced by Mehdi Abeid after picking up an injury.
Krul remained largely untested in the first 45 minutes but did save smartly with his legs when Marinaldo da Silva's free-kick was deflected on its way to goal.
Twenty-year-old Paul Dummett replaced Taylor at the break and made an important block to deny Mitroglou early in the second half, with Carroll keeping out James Perch's effort at the other end.
Substitutes Marko Pantelic and Djamel Abdoun tested Krul before Pardew strengthened his attacking ranks by introducing Cisse and Sammy Ameobi for Obertan and Shola Ameobi.
Olympiakos' hopes of finding an equaliser were dealt a blow after 73 minutes when Modeste received a second yellow card for a late challenge in the Newcastle half.
They plugged away, however, and got their reward when Abdoun darted down the left and cut inside to lay on the ball for Mitroglou, who slotted past Krul.
Cisse was denied by Carroll and hit the post with the subsequent rebound but Olympiakos held out to earn a draw despite their man disadvantage and send the game to a penalty shoot-out, which in turn ended level.
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Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
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Goal.com Rating
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Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
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