Newcastle 1 Inter Milan
Newcastle were taught a harsh Champions League lesson by Inter Milan tonight as Craig Bellamy's demons returned to haunt Bobby Robson.
Domenico Morfeo had already put the visitors in front when Bellamy was sent off for kicking out at Marco Materazzi.
Further first-half goals from Matias Almeyda and Hernan Crespo, followed by a fourth from substitute Alvaro Recoba - after Nolberto Solano's 72nd-minute strike - wrapped up the points for the Italians.
United finally got their reward 18 minutes from time when Robert split the Milan defence to put Solano in on goal, and he made no mistake to beat Toldo and open his side's account.
The goal sparked a frenzied period of activity around the visitors' penalty area, Solano shooting wide after Shearer had escaped from Cannavaro wide on the right and Robert testing Toldo with another well-struck free-kick.
But any lingering hopes of an astonishing comeback were dashed with nine minutes remaining when Alvaro Recoba, who had been on the field for less than half after replacing Crespo, accepted fellow substitute Stephane Dalmat's pass and curled a superb left-foot shot past Given.
Vieri could have got his name on the scoresheet at the death when he got on the end of a flowing move but shot straight at Given, but by then, the visitors were on cruise control.