Newcastle United booked their place in next Tuesday's Intertoto cup final with a 6-3 aggregate win over TSV 1860 Munich last night.

And to make the success over the Germans even sweeter for manager Bobby Robson, they will now face French team Troyes, who overcame another side from the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg.

Goals from Gary Speed, Lomana Lualua and Nolberto Solano cemented a 3-1 victory on the night for Newcastle, who now look to book a place in the UEFA Cup first-round proper.

Newcastle's £10m signing Laurent Robert was paraded before the St James' faithful prior to kick off, but he was unable to play because of an appearance for Paris Saint Germain in the third round of the much-maligned cup.

So once again the pressure was on young strikers Shola Ameobi and Craig Bellamy, who have impressed for the Magpies during pre-season.

United welcomed back influential midfielder Robert Lee, who passed a late fitness test and replaced Christian Bassedas with Clarence Acuna on the bench after recovering from tendinitis.

Before the game Munich boss Werner Lorant had virtually written off his side's chances due to a series of injuries.

Stand-in sweeper Tomas Votava had to pull out of the clash after he suffered a suspected broken ankle during Tuesday's St James' training session, Ned Zelic already being ruled out with a dental problem.

Neither side attacked from the start but it was not long before the Magpies' fans had something to cheer about.

After six minutes a long ball from Lee was brought down superbly by Ameobi. The gangly forward cut inside both Erik Mykland and Achim Pfuderer, the latter bringing him down.

Solano's wicked centre was met with a powerful diving header from the reliable Gary Speed to put the Magpies 4-2 up on aggregate and send thoughts of the UEFA Cup were pulsating through the 36,635 crowd - a record for an Intertoto semi-final.

Wayne Quinn and Solano fired in more crosses that worried the German back line before Munich's first attack came from a long ball from Pfuderer that fell invitingly for Markus Schroth, whose low cross looked dangerous before Nikos Dabizas cleared for a corner.

On 19 minutes Speed nearly had his second when the lively Ameobi turned Pfuderer on the edge of the box and crossed for the Welshman but his header went just wide of the keeper's right hand post.

The Bundesliga outfit began to look more offensive and when Schroth's long ball fell nicely for Martin Max it looked easier to score but the giant Czech fired over the bar from eight yards.

Wing-back Borimirov, who was arguably Munich's best player, then provided the killer ball for Schroth to equalise on 42 minutes.

The 26-year-old sneaked in between Newcastle's back line and was able to turn the ball into Shay Given's net to set a few nerves jangling on Tyneside going into the break.

Immediately after the restart Max could have reduced the arrears further when Mykland's cross was volleyed high into the Leazes End.

Newcastle had a great opportunity on 55 minutes when Holger Greilich slipped inside his own box, allowing Quinn to fire at goal, but keeper Simon Jentzsch blocked with his feet.

The home side's attacking impetus continued when Ameobi put in Solano on the right but his shot went wide of the Munich goal.

With time running out both manager made changes. Lorant brought on forward Paul Agostino and Robson fielded Lualua for Bellamy.

But with Munich hardly having time to reshuffle Lualua grabbed a goal with his first touch to put the game beyond doubt with ten minutes remaining.

The tricky Zambian dispossessed former Celtic defender Vidar Riseth on the edge of the area and duly rounded Jentzsch and placed the ball in the back of the net.

Newcastle cemented victory on 90 minutes from the penalty spot when Solano scored after Greilich had handled an Aaron Hughes cross.

Robson beamed: "We got off to a great start with a good goal in a good area.

"Shola has done tremendous to get a foul and then Nobby has stuck in a great ball in a quality area.

"Then Speed has done what he does best by getting in like a ghost and scoring with a bullet header.

"But Shola, I thought had a tremendous performance for a lad of his age.

"He was playing against some big guys but it did not stop him, he was brilliant."

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