Alan Shearer wrote himself into the Newcastle history books when he became the ninth player in the club's history to score 100 goals with Newcastle's 4-1 defeat over Ipswich in the Worthington Cup tonight. The first-half double Shearer snatched not only took him to three figures but killed off a Worthington Cup fourth-round tie which had been going his side's way ever since Laurent Robert opened the scoring with 18 minutes gone.
Shola Ameobi, in for Craig Bellamy, who missed out through illness, made it 2-0 eight minutes later as injury-ravaged Ipswich wilted, but it was Shearer who stole the headlines as he benefited from some sterling service from Nolberto Solano to ease his side into the quarter-finals with goals in the 37th and 40th minutes.
Grimsby's gallant Worthington Cup run was finally ended by a £6million Brazilian and a £13million Frenchman as Edu and Sylvain Wiltord struck the goals that carried Arsenal into the last eight. Grimsby, third-bottom of the First Division after a dismal run of 15 games which have included just one win, had eliminated a strong Liverpool side in the previous round at Anfield.
Arsenal made 10 changes from the starting line-up on parade in the 3-1 win over Manchester United just 48 hours earlier with third-choice goalkeeper Stuart Taylor the only survivor. But with Dennis Bergkamp, Wiltord, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Edu and Martin Keown on duty they still fielded talent costing in excess of £40million on the transfer market. In the fourth minute, Edu leapt above Allan Nielsen at the far post to nod in Jermaine Pennant's accurate cross and Arsenal finished it off in the 74th minute with a Wiltord goal.
Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was the hero as Bolton booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Worthington Cup. Bolton and Southampton were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time. The penalty shoot-out produced 10 successful spot-kicks in succession until Jaaskelainen saved Chris Marsden's penalty. Rod Wallace kept his cool to slot the next and put Bolton into the last eight.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
