NEWCASTLE United failed to make a positive start in the Mallorca Summer Cup tonight with Kevin Keegan's side going down to German side Hertha Berlin.
The 1-0 win for Hertha earned them four points in the four team competition and put them in with a good chance of picking up some pre-season silverware as Newcastle struggled to break the Bundesliga outfit down.
And United's chances of winning the tournament took a big hit as Real Mallorca hit four in the second game against Hannover 96 meaning even the tournament minnows have two more points than rock bottom Newcastle - who now need a miracle to win this competition.
Keegan handed a debut to Argentina international Jonas Gutierrez on the left hand side of midfield while James Milner started on the opposite side.
With Michael Owen back home in England it was Alan Smith who started in attack with Shola Ameobi while new boy Sebastien Bassong started on the bench.
But Oba Martins had to settle for a place on the sidelines despite training this morning and doing some ball work following a slight knee injury.
A lower than anticipated crowd included Toon tycoon Mike Ashley and executive director Dennis Wise.
In humid conditions Newcastle had a chance with just a minute on the clock as James Milner crossed for Ameobi but the player scuffed his effort wide from close-range.
New boy Gutierrez got in on the act just nine minutes in when he rolled the ball to N'Zogbia on the left but his cross was cleared for a corner.
Ameobi won a free-kick 30 yards out but Geremi's set piece was deflected wide by the wall with Taylor stabbing the resultant corner from Milner over the top.
Hertha then got their first glimpse of goal on the 25 minute mark when Rafael twisted his way through in the box but screwed his shot wide.
With 10 minutes of the half left Milner won a corner which he played short to Guthrie.
The new signing from Liverpool then crossed for Ameobi but he headed the ball over.
A long-range effort from Milner just before the half-time break went wide of the post to sum up a lacklustre first period.
Two minutes into the second half Gutierrez was involved again when he turned neatly on the edge of the box before sending an effort over the crossbar.
KK made a change just before the hour mark when he introduced Damien Duff for Ameobi with Newcastle struggling to break the deadlock in a typical pre-season game that lacked edge.
This was summed up when the United fans tried to make light of the game and chanted "Harper, Harper give us a song!"
Yet two minutes after coming on as sub Duff made a piercing run through the middle from his right wing position to drill in a low shot straight at the keeper.
Harper was replaced on 62 minutes by Tim Krul who received a tremendous reception from the travelling Toon Army.
The Bundesliga side then found an opening with 12 minutes left when Cicero played in Rafael but his shot went the wrong side of the upright.
And a minute later the Germans were in front when substitute Lennart Haartmann rounded Krul before dinking a cross for fellow replacement Maxi Nicu who headed home on the line to make it 1-0.
Four minutes from time Cicero blasted in a shot at the back post which Krul turned around the post with his feet.
UNITED: Harper (Krul 62), Geremi, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Enrique 70), Smith, Ameobi (Duff 59).
HERTHA: Fielder (Drobny 12), Bezarra, Von Bergen, Chahed, Cicero, Pantelic, Rafael, Stein, De Lima, Arguez (Nicu 73), Lustenberger (Haartmann 66).
Ref: Ivan Gonzazlez (Spain)
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