Associated Press

London, February 18:

Alan Shearer and Lee Bowyer both scored in the final 25 minutes to rally Newcastle to a 2-1 victory over Dutch club Heerenveen, one of only two clubs to win away from home in the first leg of the UEFA Cup’s third round.

Alvaro Maior lifted Zaragoza over Fenerbahce 1-0 for the other away win, while CSKA Moscow, playing for the first time since being eliminated from the group stage of the European Champions League in December, beat Portuguese league leader Benfica 2-0. A dearth of goals plagued three games with Alemannia Aachen vs AZ Alkmaar, Dynamo Kiev vs Villarreal, and Basel vs Lille all ending in 0-0 draws. In other games, Middlesbrough twice led before settling for a 2-2 draw with Grazer AK and Olympiakos beat Sochaux 1-0. Klaas Jan Huntelaar gave Heerenveen the lead in the 23rd minute, but Shearer’s 14th goal of the season in the 65th and Bowyer’s back heel into the net with nine minutes remaining rescued Newcastle, which played the final four minutes with 10 men after Bowyer drew a second yellow card.

Alvaro converted off a long pass from Luciano Galletti in the 72nd minute, giving Zaragoza the advantage heading into next week’s second legs.