Manchester City completed a 5-1 aggregate win over holders Newcastle to set up a Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
Omar Marmoush scored twice early on before Tijjani Reijnders put the outcome beyond the doubt before the first half was through. Newcastle made a better fist of it after the interval, Anthony Elanga pulling one goal back, but the tie was a lost cause by then.
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Omar
Omar Marmoush opened the scoring in Manchester City's clash with Newcastle
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Man city
Omar Marmoush headed in his second to give Manchester City a 2-0 lead
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Reijnders
Tijjani Reijnders slotted home Manchester City's third of the night
The Magpies were always up against it following their two-goal defeat last month and, though they were hoping for a fast start, any prospect of that was gone once Dan Burn's clearance ricocheted off Marmoush and looped over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
James Trafford did have to come off his line twice to smother chances for Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon but Marmoush soon made them pay with his second of the night, nodding in from Antoine Semenyo's centre after Reijnders' powerful run from deep.
The Netherlands international midfielder regularly found space in behind the Newcastle midfield - City outnumbering their opponents in the centre of the pitch - and it led to the third goal as well. Reijnders finished this chance himself after being fed by Semenyo.
Howe lost Anthony Gordon to injury late in the first half and made three further substitutions at the break, changing the flow of the game somewhat, albeit too late. Yoane Wissa missed a clear chance before fellow arrival Anthony Elanga fired into the bottom corner.
Team news:
Erling Haaland was rested with Omar Marmoush up front, while Phil Foden returned to the Man City team. Nico Gonzalez was in the holding role.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe went with five at the back as he did away in Paris recently. Anthony Gordon partnered Nick Woltemade in attack.
There were chants of, 'We're going to win 6-5,' from the vocal travelling support and though Harvey Barnes had an effort rightly ruled out for offside, Elanga then missed an even better chance after his goal, a reminder of City's own vulnerabilities at the back.
But Newcastle's grip on the trophy that ended their 70-year wait for major domestic silverware last season has been relinquished. It is Pep Guardiola's Manchester City who will contest the final against Premier League leaders Arsenal on March 22 at Wembley.
Player ratings:
Man City: Trafford (8), Nunes (7), Khusanov (7), Ake (6), Ait-Nouri (7), Gonzalez (6), O’Reilly (7), Foden (6), Reijnders (8), Semenyo (7), Marmoush (8).
Subs: Alleyne (6), Rodri (6), Haaland (7), Cherki (7), Lewis (n/a).
Newcastle: Ramsdale (6), Trippier (6), Botman (6), Burn (5), Thiaw (6), Hall (5), Willock (5), Ramsey (6), Tonali (6), Gordon (5), Woltemade (5).
Subs: Barnes (7), Wissa (6), Murphy (6), Elanga (7), Osula (6).
Player of the Match: Omar Marmoush.
Player of the match: Omar Marmoush
This was Marmoush's third start for City since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations and the third time that his team have taken the lead inside the opening 10 minutes of those games. Two of those goals have been scored by the livewire Egyptian himself.
He scored twice in this victory over Newcastle, this time without Erling Haaland on the pitch. That Marmoush looks a viable alternative to the big Norwegian could prove very important for Guardiola as City continue to compete on four fronts this season.
Marmoush's characteristics are arguably better suited than Haaland to the split-striker system that Guardiola has been using of late. He has dovetailed well with Semenyo, the two wide forwards also providing those spaces for Reijnders and others to run into.
Do not expect Marmoush to usurp Haaland for the biggest games, perhaps. But in lightening the load on City's striker and providing a goal threat of his own, there is no doubt that his presence presents Guardiola with better options ahead of a busy spring.
What's coming up next?