Manchester City ended Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup title defense without giving the Alfa a chance.
Pep Guardiola defeated the Magpies 3–1 on the night and 5–1 on aggregate at the Etihad, where Eddie Howe and the Geordies simply don’t know how to kick a ball at.
Howe’s side needed a dramatic turnaround, yes, but conceded three first-half goals, all but ending their Wembley hopes inside 32 minutes.
City started fast and took the lead in the seventh minute when Dan Burn’s challenge deflected Omar Marmoush’s shot over Aaron Ramsdale. Newcastle nearly responded, with Anthony Gordon testing James Trafford and Joe Willock hesitating in front of goal, but their early efforts vanished soon.
Marmoush added a second goal, heading in after Kieran Trippier’s poor clearance from an Antoine Semenyo cross, and that was pretty much it. Things got worse moments later as Tijjani Reijnders finished a move he started, slotting past Ramsdale for City’s third.
The visitors’ night went from bad to worse when Gordon limped off before halftime with a suspected hamstring injury.
After the break, Newcastle improved and found a consolation when Anthony Elanga cut in from the right and finished for his first goal (yes, you read that right) since joining from Nottingham Forest last summer. Elanga later missed a chance to double his tally, but by then the outcome was clear.
City, now through to a Wembley final against Arsenal, never looked threatened despite. Newcastle’s defensive errors, poor marking, lack of ruthlessness going forward, and anything else you want to mention summed up their Etihad performance and continued a miserable record at the Cityzens ground.
Howe’s team have now gone 12 years without a win at the Etihad, scoring just once in six visits under his management.
The Magpies also suffered a serious setback with Gordon’s injury, leaving Howe with another concern as the schedule stays relentless.
Next, Newcastle visit Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday. Let’s pray.
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* [Newcastle United Match Reports](/newcastle-united-match-reports)