Deportivo La Coruña 2 - Newcastle United 1

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Andrade, Romero, Capdevila; Duscher (Víctor 71'), Sergio; Munitis, Diego Tristán (Valerón 55'), Rubén Castro, Luque (Scaloni 62'). 4-2-4.
Newcastle: Given; Carr, Boumsong, Taylor, Babayaro; Milner (Chopra 72'), N'Zogbia, Butt, Faye, Bowyer; Shearer. 4-5-1.

Goals:
1-0. 11. Rubén Castro. Placed shot wide of Given from Munitis cross.
1-1. 47. Bowyer. Volleyed shot into net after Tristán headed away corner.
2-1. 58. Andrade. Ran through from own half and bent shot wide of keeper.

Deportivo take a slight advantage into the second leg after beating Newcastle 2-1 in their semi-final tie. Joaquín Caparrós put out an aggressive line up against the depleted English side, with four recognised forwards in the team and Valerón once again left on the bench. And it paid off early on, Munitis getting away down the right wing and crossing in for Rubén Castro to score his third goal in as many games in the ninth minute. And it could have been more before the break, with Sergio and Munitis both shooting wide when presented with chances.

Missing many of their key players, the visitors were not in the match. But just two minutes after the restart they got the vital away goal they were looking for, Lee Bowyer beating Molina with a spectacular volley after Diego Tristán had headed away Milner's corner. Caparrós brought on Valerón for a tired Tristán (who was making his first start since recovering from a long injury), and within a few minutes Depor were back in front, Andrade the unlikely scorer after picking up the ball in his own half and running on to strike an angled shot past Given. Rubén Castro could have increased the lead had the keeper not made a couple of vital saves, but in the end the Galicians will have to make do with a one goal lead to take to St. James's Park next week.