Krul (Woodman 46), Janmaat, Williamson, Lascelles (Taylor 46), Haïdara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Obertan (Aarons 69), de Jong (Perez 69), Cissé (Wijnaldum 69).
Still some way off full fitness, Steve McClaren’s side were far from at their best in their third pre-season friendly of the summer, but recorded a first win in the USA courtesy of a James Kiffe own goal.
Newcastle United’s first win of their USA pre-season tour may not have been the prettiest, but on a night when their character was tested to the limit, they walked away with victory.
It came courtesy of an own goal and with ten men after Massadio Haidara’s red card.
However, Steve McClaren will be pleased with the workout nevertheless.
There were times last season when a red card would generally result in the Magpies falling to pieces. Well that wasn’t the case this time in California.
The game was played amidst a backdrop of the California State Fair, palm trees, and a monorail which swept past the ground on regular intervals.
Newcastle’s service into the box though, wasn’t as efficient in the first half.
Newcastle opted against risking Fabricio Coloccini in the game with the captain currently carrying a slight injury.
Before the game kicked off a banner saying: “Mike Ashley sold our soul” was unfurled by fans in the US.
It was Sacramento who set the tone in an attacking sense as the dangerous Rodrigo Lopez poured forward but could only manage a wild lash that flew high and wide.
On nine minutes Gabriel Obertan crossed from the left but Moussa Sissoko’s shot flew hopelessly over the bar troubling nothing but the monorail track behind the goal.
Two minutes later a Jack Colback corner was swung in and Siem De Jong rose high but he headed straight at the keeper.
Sacramento were thankful to Nemanja Vukovic on 28 minutes when, after a Vurnon Anita cross, he cleared off the line after Micky Daly’s deflection trickled towards goal.
Newcastle continued attacking after Daryl Janmaat’s cross on the half hour mark but Papiss Cisse miscontrolled.
The remainder of the first half was all about Tim Krul.
First he clawed Lopez’s free-kick over the top on 33 minutes. Then he somehow blocked Thomas Stewart’s angled effort moments later.
He also got a vital touch on Max Alvarez’s hard and low free-kick as his brilliance kept Newcastle level at half time.
Newcastle took the lead just two minutes into the second half as Haidara’s cross from the left was hooked into his own net by James Kiffe to the astonishment of home fans.
With 51 minutes on the clock Newcastle were saved by the linesman’s flag after Bonney Field had erupted when David Estrada slotted home before the offside call left the home side deflated.
Sub keeper Freddie Woodman emulated some of Krul’s first half quality when he pushed away Danny Barrera’s long range effort.
But moments later Newcastle were down to ten men after Haidara’s late and dangerous tackle on Barrera.
As the game settled down a little bit, Georginio Wijnaldum showed some nice touches on his debut (subbed on in the 69th minute) as the Magpies tried to reorganise.
Fellow sub Rolando Aarons was also giving the Sac defence problems with some great skills on the left hand side.
He came close to slotting in Ayoze Perez with ten minutes left but keeper McClain got there first.
United held on for the win despite late pressure from the hosts.