Manchester City seized a significant advantage in their Carabao Cup semi-final, securing a 2-0 first-leg victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park. Goals from Antoine Semenyo and a late strike from substitute Rayan Cherki have put Pep Guardiola's side firmly in the driving seat ahead of the return fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
Howe's Pre-Match Fears Realised by Semenyo
The match was preceded by controversy, with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe dismayed to learn that Antoine Semenyo was eligible to play for City despite featuring in the competition earlier this season for Bournemouth. His worst fears were realised in the 53rd minute when the forward broke the deadlock. Jeremy Doku's cross was helped on by Bernardo Silva, leaving Semenyo to slot home his second goal in two games since his £62.5 million move.
Newcastle had started brightly, buoyed by news of their owners' plans for a £200 million training ground at Woolsington Hall. They created the best chance of a cagey first half, but Yoane Wissa blazed over from close range after good work from Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy. At the other end, Erling Haaland was similarly quiet, spurning a rare opportunity from a Silva cross.
VAR Drama and a Goalkeeping Masterclass
The game's major flashpoint arrived shortly after Semenyo's opener. The striker thought he had doubled City's lead with an ingenious back-heeled finish from a corner, but after a lengthy five-minute VAR review, the effort was ruled out for an offside against Haaland in the build-up. The decision left Pep Guardiola visibly frustrated on the touchline.
Newcastle, handed a reprieve, pushed for an equaliser. Substitute Sandro Tonali fired just wide, but they were repeatedly thwarted by an outstanding performance from City goalkeeper James Trafford. The former Burnley man, once a target for Howe, made several crucial saves, including a superb stop from Wissa, to preserve his clean sheet.
Cherki's Late Strike Seals Crucial Advantage
As Newcastle committed men forward in search of a leveller, City struck a decisive blow in stoppage time. Another substitute, Rayan Cherki, found the net to give the visitors a commanding two-goal cushion to take back to Manchester. The late goal compounded a difficult night for the Magpies, who also saw Jacob Murphy substituted with a hamstring injury.
The result leaves Newcastle's defence of the trophy they won last March in a precarious position. While the tie is not over, Manchester City are now strong favourites to progress to the final at Wembley, with their place all but secured by a professional away performance built on clinical finishing and resilient defending.
