Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki fired Manchester City to a 2-0 aggregate lead over Carabao Cup holders, Newcastle United with victory in the first leg of their semi-final.
Semenyo netted City’s first-leg winner from a close-range finish of Jeremy Doku’s 53rd-minute cross across the box, which had been deflected by Bernardo Silva into his path.
Semenyo however saw a second goal disallowed following a six-minute Video Assistant-Referee (VAR) review due to Erling Haaland having been offside.
City eventually gave themselves a two-goal lead in the ninth minute of injury time after Cherki turned Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cutback pass in past Nick Pope.
Man City now hold a 2-0 aggregate lead over the reigning champions ahead of the return leg at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 4 February at 8pm GMT.
After two edgy thrillers in their last two matches across Premier League and FA Cup at St James’ Park, Newcastle knew that they faced a huge defensive test against a City team which demolished Exeter City 10-1 in their FA Cup tie just days ago, and began this game on the pressing front foot.
Newcastle however managed to claim the first chance just five minutes in after Anthony Gordon’s deep pass across the pitch was met by Jacob Murphy, and the right winger calmly played a low cross into the box yet Yoane Wissa rifled over from close range.
City continued to dominate possession but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities as Newcastle nullified their attacking threats with a low defensive block, as Wissa again fired wide from a 27th-minute opportunity created by Murphy.
Murphy however had to be substituted in first-half injury time due to a hamstring injury but Newcastle managed to keep the scoreline goalless at half time, with Harvey Barnes having replaced Murphy.
Man City though turned up the intensity early in the second half and almost took a 49th-minute lead after Doku’s cross was deflected towards the right corner of his own goal by Anthony Gordon, but Pope made a crucial save on the line to spare the left winger’s blushes.
Newcastle responded with two chances in swift succession as Wissa headed Lewis Hall’s cross onto the crossbar, before James Trafford deflected Bruno Guimaraes’ shot.
City eventually found their breakthrough in the 53rd minute after Doku escaped Lewis Miley’s marking to play a low cross across the goal, which Silva flicked into Semenyo’s path for the January signing to lash in from close range to claim his second goal in his first two appearances for the club.
Semenyo almost turned villain six minutes later after he handballed a Newcastle corner, yet referee – Chris Kavanagh and VAR snubbed the Magpies’ appeals.
The Ghanian subsequently doubled City’s lead with a 62nd-minute rebound volley on the bounce into the bottom right corner from Pope’s tame clearance off his left arm.
VAR however swiftly intervened after they spotted Haaland marginally offside just beyond the goal-line, although it took six minutes for them to determine the offside position and disallowed the goal, albeit after Kavanagh had gone to the pitchside monitor to inspect the footage for himself.
Newcastle responded with a triple substitution which included Sando Tonali, who almost restored parity in the 70th minute after he met a cutback pass but he rifled wide of the near bottom right corner.
Tijani Reijnders, Silva and Rayan Cherki saw shots blocked as City continued to pile on the pressure, amidst a wide header from Newcastle substitute – Nick Woltemade in the fourth minute of injury time.
City eventually extended their aggregate lead to two goals in the ninth additional minute after a neat passage of play found Ait-Nouri to cut back across the box, where Cherki was alert to fire in past Pope to secure a comfortable 2-0 lead to take into their home leg.
What’s Next?
Newcastle turn their attention back to the Premier League as they visit relegation-battling Wolves at Molineux on Sunday 18 January at 2pm GMT.
Man City meanwhile head to local rivals, Manchester United on Saturday 17 January at 12:30pm GMT.
Teams
Newcastle: Nick Pope, Lewis Miley, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Jacob Ramsey (Tonali 69′), Bruno Guimaraes (Trippier 87′), Joelinton, Jacob Murphy (Barnes 45+2′), Yoane Wissa (Woltemade 69′), Anthony Gordon (Elanga 69′)
Substitutes: Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave, Aaron Ramsdale, Sandro Tonali, Kieran Trippier, Joe Willock, Nick Woltemade
Man City: James Trafford, Matheus Nunes (Lewis 62′), Abdukodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne, Nathan Ake (Ait-Nouri 88′), Nico O’Reilly (Rodri 62′), Antoine Semenyo, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden (Reijnders 62′), Jeremy Doku (Cherki 77′), Erling Haaland
Substitutes: Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Charlie Gray, Rodri, Rico Lewis, Ryan McAidoo, Divine Mukasa, Tijani Reijnders
Referee – Chris Kavanagh
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