SUNDERLAND target Shefki Kuqi inflicted an embarrassing defeat on Newcastle in a see-saw encounter at Hillsborough last night.

The Magpies came from behind to lead 3-1, but three goals in 11 second-half minutes earned Chris Turner's Wednesday a dramatic victory.

Skipper Kieron Dyer had led by example to counter Lloyd Owusu's shock second-minute opener with a 21st-minute strike.

Two minutes after the break, Dyer saw his shot parried by goalkeeper Ola Tidman before Shola Ameobi rammed home the rebound.

Lomana LuaLua, who minutes earlier had hit a post, then curled in a glorious 65th-minute free-kick to seemingly put the game beyond Wednesday.

But when Dean Smith planted a header past keeper Steve Harper from Terry Cooke's corner three minutes later, the Second Division side rose to the challenge.

First, Tynesider Craig Armstrong, a half-time substitute for former Middlesbrough midfielder Robbie Mustoe, scored in the 76th minute with a close-range shot that Titus Bramble failed to block on the line.

Then, Finnish striker Kuqi, who had replaced Owusu on the hour, hooked home to leave Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson red-faced.

United soon wilted in the face of an early Wednesday onslaught, which yielded an opener for Owusu. Richard Evans whipped in a left-wing centre and Owusu, who scored for Brentford in their 4-1 Worthington Cup defeat at St James' Park almost two years ago, was unchallenged at the near post as he fired into the roof of the net.

On his return to Yorkshire, former Leeds star Lee Bowyer unsurprisingly found himself a target for the Hillsborough hate mob but he ignored his detractors to help set up Newcastle's equaliser.

Ameobi delivered the final ball to release Dyer, who kept his composure to draw goalkeeper Tidman from his line and tuck the ball in.

The 1,500 or so Newcastle fans were relieved to see their captain's clinical touch after Tidman had denied LuaLua and Ameobi before the latter fluffed another chance.

In between, former Hartlepool defender Graeme Lee had threatened to increase the Magpies' discomfort when he headed just over from a Terry Cooke corner.

Bowyer thought he had given United the lead in the 27th minute, but an offside flag cut short his celebrations.

Tidman continued his heroics with saves at the feet of Ameobi and LuaLua and a brilliant block from a Carl Cort header.

Sheff. Wed: Tidman (Pressman 53 mins); Geary, Lee, Smith, Barry-Murphy; Cooke, Quinn (McLaren 63 mins), Mustoe (Armstrong 46 mins), Evans, Holt, Owusu (Kuqi 60 mins).

Newcastle: Harper; Hughes, Andy O'Brien, Bramble, Elliott; Bowyer, Dyer, Viana; Ameobi, Cort, LuaLua. Subs (not used): McClen, Bartlett, Taylor, Orr, Brennan, Zola Makongo.

Result: Sheffield Wednesday 4, Newcastle United XI 3.

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