Newcastle United were eliminated from the FA Cup after Manchester City came from behind to secure a 3–1 win at St James’ Park in the fifth round.
Not only are the Magpies out of all domestic cups, but also sitting behind the point of mediocrity in the Premier League table and facing a hella steep hill in the Champions League against LaLiga leaders FC Barcelona. In other words, it’s almost fair to say Newcastle’s season is done and over with.
Harvey Barnes gave Newcastle the lead and hopes of advancing another round after 18 minutes, but Man City responded before the break through Savinho and then pulled clear in the second half with two goals from Omar Marmoush.
Now, it’s all up to the Geordies to pull off one of two miracles: beat Barcelona and a plethora of other mammoth teams in the UCL, win it, and play there again next season; or do something to work out their magic and somehow, some way, finish seventh in the league standings. Pick your poison.
Eddie Howe’s side started the match with energy and created early problems for the visitors, who were a bit asleep to start the day. Nick Woltemade—who did between nothing and zero playing the False 9, No. 10, or whatever-you-want-to-call-it position—saw a header cleared off the line by Nico Gonzalez before Newcastle eventually made their pressure count.
The breakthrough came when Sandro Tonali released Barnes with a through ball behind the City defense. Barnes took a touch inside and curled a right-footed shot into the far corner to put Newcastle ahead. Sublime effort, in all honesty.
Manchester City, however, gradually took control of possession and scored late in the first half in a bizarre way. Jeremy Doku’s low cross travelled across the face of the goal and Savinho, positioned at the far post, allowed the ball to strike him before it rolled past Aaron Ramsdale and into the net.
The Cityzens continued to push after the break and completed the turnaround early in the second half. Matheus Nunes cut a low cross into the six-yard box and Omar Marmoush, who was just too damn much for the Mags, controlled before finishing from close range to give the visitors the lead.
The Egyptian forward then extended City’s advantage minutes later. Receiving the ball outside the penalty area, Marmoush struck a powerful shot that flew past Ramsdale and into the net to make it 3–1.
The result means Manchester City reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for an eighth consecutive season under Pep Guardiola, while Newcastle’s domestic cup campaign ended at the fifth-round stage, once again at the hands of Man City in their fifth matchup this season.
Newcastle will return to action midweek, when they host Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday, with Howe and the Geordies surely looking for God’s help on this one.
Brutally but equally realistically, the international break and exclusive national-ground matches coming off of it cannot come soon enough.
See More:
* [Newcastle United Match Reports](/newcastle-united-match-reports)