Sandro Tonali’s brace and Fabian Schar’s tap-in saw Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1 to reach 2024-25 Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Tonali fired Newcastle ahead with a ninth-minute rebound shot then doubled the Magpies’ lead with a 43rd minute volley from a corner.
Schar wrapped up victory with a 69th minute tap-in from Bruno Guimaraes’ pass.
Yoane Wissa however struck in the 91st minute to net a consolatory goal for Thomas Frank’s Bees, having met Bryan Mbeumo’s side-pass from Mikkel Damsgaard’s through-ball.
Speaking post-match to BBC Radio Five Live, Newcastle manager – Eddie Howe felt “really pleased” by his team’s “good performance”, which provided a boost in confidence following an autumn of inconsistency.
“The balance of the team is good. We have players playing in their chosen positions and playing well. We look creative again and a high number of shots and chances to score.”
Arsenal also secured their semi-spot with a 3-2 home win over Crystal Palace through Gabriel Jesus’ hat-trick, after Jean-Philippe Mateta had put the Eagles in front before Eddie Nketiah nodded in a consolatory header for the visitors.
Title-holders, Liverpool progressed with a 2-1 win at Southampton through first-half goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, despite Cameron Archer’s second-half goal for the Saints.
Having beaten Newcastle 4-2 at home in the Premier League but won just one away game all season, Brentford were dealt a blow before kick-off as Sepp van den Berg was replaced by Nathan Collins due to a warm-up injury.
Brentford’s night almost worsened just three minutes in as Jacob Murphy burst up the right, but his cutback pass was converted into a shot by Joelinton which was luckily blocked.
Newcastle soon found a breakthrough opening goal just six minutes later from Alexander Isak’s cutback pass, which Collins scruffily diverted into the path of Tonali who smashed his shot low into the bottom-right corner.
Brentford almost won a penalty barely a minute later after Wissa was fouled by Martin Dubravka who made a double save, with referee – Sam Barrett snubbing the Bees’ penalty appeals.
If luck wasn’t on the West Londoners’ side then their nightmare start took another twist in the 11th minute, as Ethan Pinnock suffered a suspected hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Mads Roerslev.
Newcastle continued their dominant start but struggled to carve out many clear-cut chances, aside from a 34th minute shot from Murphy which flew wide.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies eventually got their rewards from a 43rd minute corner with Tonali free to volley in unmarked from Gordon’s delivery to put the hosts two goals up at the break.
Newcastle however had to weather early second-half pressure from Brentford as Yoane Wissa volleyed wide in the 49th minute.
Isak and Anthony Gordon saw chances denied whilst Murphy saw a shot curl just wide on the hour mark.
Newcastle eventually wrapped up a semi-final spot from a 69th minute corner which was deflected out to Tonali, but the Italian then Hall saw shots blocked but Bruno Guimaraes teed up Schar to tap in from Hall’s attempt.
Substitute, Harvey Barnes rattled the crossbar as Newcastle cruised to consecutive home wins in all competitions.
Damsgaard however denied Newcastle a clean sheet with a 91st minute through-ball to Mbeumo, who teed up Wissa to net a consolatory goal for the Bees.
What’s Next?
Newcastle turn their attention back to the Premier League with a trip to Ipswich on Saturday 21 December at 3pm GMT.
Brentford also in league action at the same time as they host Nottingham Forest at Gtech Community Stadium.
Teams
Newcastle: Martin Dubravka, Lewis Hall (Trippier 77′), Dan Burn, Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento, Joelinton (Willock 46′), Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon (Almiron 77′), Alexander Isak (Osula 77′), Jacob Murphy (Barnes 65′)
Substitutes: Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes, Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Miley, William Osula, Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Joe Willock
Brentford: Mark Flekken, Nathan Collins, Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock (Roerslev 14′), Kristoffer Ajer, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Vitaly Janelt (Damsgaard 62′), Fabio Carvalho (Mbeumo 61′), Keane Lewis-Potter (Meghoma 74′), Kevin Schade (Maghoma 74′), Yoane Wissa
Substitutes: Yunus Konak, Mikkel Damsgaard, Paris Maghoma, Bryan Mbeumo, Jayden Meghoma, Mads Roerslev, Ryan Trevitt, Hakon Valdimarsson
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