Maksim Shatskikh, the man who opened the scoring for Kiev in their 2-0 win over Bobby Robson’s side in the Ukraine last month, did it again two minutes after the break, but Gary Speed’s equaliser set up Shearer to claim the headlines with the second Champions League goal of his career.

The fact that he is still yet to score in open play in the competition was the farthest thing from the former England striker’s mind as he celebrated another famous victory and the chance to head for Rotterdam on November 13 knowing that a third successive victory could take his side into the second round.

A crowd of 40,185 collectively held its breath as Shearer stepped up, but they need not have bothered.

“We have some very good penalty kickers in the side, but obviously he’s the best,” said Robson.

“He’s the calmest and coolest and probably the strongest personality, with respect to everyone else, because he’s been in that position so many times, taking important penalties throughout his career for club and country, so I didn’t think he would fail us.

“There was a delay, which is not easy. It’s unsettling and you’ve got to keep cool and keep talking to yourself and re-position yourself on it, and obviously he did that and I was delighted when it went in.”

If Shearer has seen and done it all before, his young strike partner Shola Ameobi is still learning his trade, and he furthered his education in a bruising battle with Kiev defender Goran Gavrancic.

“You can’t buy that experience,” said Robson. “You have to play in it and it’s a big education for him playing against a good marker with a sweeper.

“The 17 (Tiberiu Ghioane) was a very good player and the marker on him was quite ferocious and didn’t give him much space, or didn’t try to.

“And the kid stood up. Yes, he made one or two mistakes, but the kid’s 21 years of age and he did very well for us.”

The net result of United’s win and Juventus’ 2-0 victory over Feyenoord is that Robson’s side must win in Rotterdam and hope Kiev do not beat the Italians - who have not won a Champions League game away from home in 18 attempts – if they are to go through to the second round, although a single point will clinch third spot and a UEFA Cup place.

“We have an away match to play now; Kiev have a home match to play. Juventus are through – will they do what Manchester United did? I don’t know,” said Robson.

“That will have a big bearing on it, of course. All we can do is play our part and hope everybody else does theirs.

“I can’t legislate or dictate what other clubs and other managers will do in the last game.”

The only fly in the ointment for Robson was the loss of central defenders Titus Bramble and Andy O’Brien through injury by half-time, although a five-day gap until the derby clash with Middlesbrough will at least give them time to recover.