Finally, the wait is over. And as is often the way, you wait ages for a goal, then two arrive in the space of just over half-an-hour, with Tonali following up a clinical low finish from just outside the area with an equally proficient first-time volley from Anthony Gordon’s corner.
The Italian’s brace took Newcastle into their second Carabao Cup semi-final in the space of three seasons, and provided further evidence of Tonali’s increased importance to this Magpies side. As was the case in Saturday’s league win over Leicester City, Tonali was excellent in his deep-lying midfield role, popping off slick short passes, drifting into pockets of space that proved impossible to pick up and timing his forward runs perfectly to cause maximum damage in and around the opposition’s 18-yard box.
For much of his time in a Newcastle shirt, which has, of course, been interrupted by his ten-month betting ban, Tonali has felt like a player searching for a position to call his own. Having been repositioned into the deeper slot that was previously being filled by Bruno Guimaraes, he appears to have finally found his home. Both he and Newcastle are profiting as a result.
Fabian Schar’s second-half goal confirmed Newcastle’s place in the semi-finals, but neither the Swiss defender nor Guimaraes will be able to play in the first leg after picking up bookings last night. Whoever the Magpies get in this evening’s draw, the pair will be missed.
That was the only blemish on an otherwise fine night though. Could Newcastle maintain the feelgood factor they had generated as they brushed aside Leicester four days earlier? The answer arrived inside the opening ten minutes.
The Magpies had already gone close through Joelinton, who saw a fourth-minute shot blocked in the box, when Tino Livramento embarked on a surging run down the right-hand side.
Nathan Collins could only clear the full-back’s low cross to Tonali, who was loitering with intent 20 yards out, and the Italian cracked a low finish past Mark Flekken to break the deadlock.
Collins was a last-minute addition to Brentford’s starting line-up, replacing Sepp van den Berg who dropped out after the warm-up, and the centre-half showed definite signs of rustiness as he failed to deal with Livramento’s cross. Tonali, fresh from his best performance of the season at the weekend, took full advantage, driving home before celebrating gleefully in front of the Leazes End.
Tonali’s effort was a fitting reward for Newcastle’s front-foot start, but the Magpies were indebted to the sharp reflexes of Martin Dubravka, who enabled them to hold on to their lead three minutes later.
The home side’s defence looked in trouble when Kevin Schade released Yoane Wissa into the 18-yard box, but while the Congolese striker tried to round Dubravka, the Newcastle goalkeeper timed his dive perfectly to claw away the ball. Wissa went down looking for a penalty, but with VAR not in use, thankfully referee Sam Barrott was not taken in by his theatrics.
Thomas Frank opted to partner Schade and Wissa in attack, with the in-form Bryan Mbeumo only on the bench, and while the visitors were a sporadic threat on the break, the Magpies dominated throughout.
Jacob Murphy curled over from the edge of the box, before Anthony Gordon latched onto a long diagonal and fired over the far corner after cutting inside onto his favoured right foot.
It felt like a second goal was coming, and it duly arrived as Tonali’s night became even better two minutes before the break.
There was still plenty to do as the Italian sized up Gordon’s floated corner, but from a position close to the penalty spot, he guided a fine first-time volley into the net. Admittedly, Tonali’s strike flicked off the hapless Collins before beating Flekken, but even so, there was still plenty to admire in the technical excellence that enabled him to keep his shot on target.
With Newcastle rampant, Murphy almost added a third goal in first-half stoppage time as he drilled a first-time effort against the outside of the post after being teed up by Alexander Isak.
It was turning into an ideal evening, but the major downside for the Magpies in the first half was the yellow cards shown to Schar and Guimaraes that means the pair will both be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final. The bookings were for mistimed challenges, and both were fully justified. Neither player was going to hold back just because they were one booking away from a ban, but being without both at the start of next year could prove costly.
Newcastle found themselves without Joelinton at the start of the second half, with the Brazilian having been unable to recover from being trodden on while prone on the floor before the break. Joe Willock replaced him, and immediately went close to scoring with a shot that was deflected wide.
Gordon and Murphy also curled narrowly past the post as Newcastle’s dominance became even more pronounced after the interval, and the hosts made their win completely safe as they scored a third goal with 21 minutes remaining.
Flekken could only parry Lewis Hall’s deflected shot to Guimaraes, he slipped a sideways pass to Schar, and the Swiss centre-half was left with the simple task of slotting home from close range.
Brentford’s consolation came in the first minute of stoppage time, with Wissa slotting home Mbeumo’s low cross.