Comfortable win for Toon

Antoine Sibierski put his friendship with Frederic Dindeleux to the test as Newcastle shattered Zulte Waregem's UEFA Cup dreams with a 3-1 victory.

The former Lille team-mates have known each other since the age of eight, and Dindeleux was Sibierski's best man at his wedding.

However, Zulte's former Kilmarnock defender endured a nightmare, opening the scoring with a 47th-minute own goal and then seeing his close friend outpace him to wrap up victory with a stunning solo effort 14 minutes from time at the Jules Otten Stadium.

Obafemi Martins' 13th goal of the season from the penalty spot had put the Magpies in charge, and although they wobbled momentarily after Karel D'Haene had pulled a goal back, Sibierski sent them into next Thursday night's second leg in pole position to claim a last 16 clash with either Fenerbahce or AZ Alkmaar.

Zulte coach Francky Dury and his players may have been less than impressed with Bulgarian referee Anton Genov's decision to award a penalty for goalkeeper Pieter Merlier's challenge on Damien Duff, but in truth, his side were well beaten.

Indeed, had the Magpies made the most of the opportunities which came their way before the break, they would have been home and dry in the tie.