Craig Bellamy fired Newcastle into the Champions League big time at the end of a remarkable contest and then admitted it was the most important goal of his career to date.

The 23-year-old Welshman, who only came into the reckoning to start the game a matter of days ago after recovering from a knee injury, proved the hero at the De Kuip Stadium by clinching victory and a place in the last 16.

Bellamy was in buoyant mood as United's comeback kings did it again to take their Group E points total to nine when three games ago it stood at nil.

"It was the biggest goal I've scored in my career because of what it means to the team and the supporters," he said.

"We all had no idea we had gone through until we got to the dressing room, and the reaction was fantastic.

"I want to play against the greatest sides in Europe because I want to improve - and we all do. We've got better already and we deserve this. We're too good to be called lucky."

Bellamy put United ahead in first-half injury time after an encouraging opening 45 minutes, and when Hugo Viana made it 2-0 just four minutes after the break, the Magpies were in raptures.

However, with substitute Mariano Bombarda by now leading a Feyenoord fightback, there were several twists and turns still to come.

Bombarda dragged his side back into it on 65 minutes and then Anthony Lurling levelled just six minutes later to spark a blitz.

But Bellamy chose the perfect moment to clinch Newcastle United's first ever away win into the Champions League after Feyenoord keeper Patrick Lodewijks had parried Kieron Dyer's shot.