Newcastle United 0–2 Manchester City: Match Report & Reaction

Manchester City took a big step towards the League Cup final with a 2-0 win against Newcastle in the first of two legs. This was a game that swung on the away side taking their chances after Newcastle had missed good opportunities to take the lead.

Eddie Howe’s pre-match press conference.

Match Summary

Goals change games, and whilst Manchester City had the edge on possession and showed their quality it was Newcastle who had the better of the chances to take the lead.

Manchester City were always going to get opportunities of their own with the biggest threat coming from Doku on City's left wing. Lewis Miley, on top form in recent games as a stand in right back, struggled to contain Doku who constantly got the better of the duels.

It is ironic that, after Newcastle weren't allowed to play Martin Dubravka in the League Cup final against Manchester United because he had played one game on loan in the competition - that the rules where changed for this season. Nobody is entirely sure why.

That rule change allowed Antoine Semenyo to line up against the Magpies and it was the Ghanian winger who scored the crucial first goal that set Manchester City up for their win.

Eddie Howe will rue his team's missed chances knowing that the outcome of the match could have been very different if Newcastle had taken the lead.

As it was, a tiring Newcastle conceded a second goal just before the final whistle to leave Manchester City in pole position to reach the final.

Goals & Key Moments

A key moment in the game was Yoane Wissa's miss early in the first half.

An excellent move by Newcastle resulted in a ball across the face of goal that left Wissa with only goalkeeper Trafford to beat from a few yards out. His first touch was good, but not his second, and his shot was high and wide.

Not long after a second chance fell to Wissa but this time his first touch was poor and a second opportunity for Newcastle to take the lead was lost.

Wissa almost redeemed himself in the second half when an excellent header forced the save of the game from former Newcastle target James Trafford. The ball wasn't cleared by City and was moved on to Bruno Guimaraes who hit the post with Trafford beaten.

With the crowd in full voice and Manchester City on the back foot for the first time in the game, a Newcastle goal would have made for a different game to the one that followed.

It was City who went ahead when, not for the first time, Jeremy Doku beat his man, played a ball across goal, to leave Semenyo with an easy chance. 1-0 to Manchester City and a hill to climb to get back into the game for Newcastle.

Semenyp was denied a second goal for an offside decision that took over five minutes to resolve. With Thiaw and Haaland ahead of Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope the City striker was deemed to be in an offside position and holding back Thiaw.

Going into the second leg just one goal behind would still have given Newcastle and their fans hope. But a second goal against a tiring defence by Ryan Cherki in the last minute of stoppage time sealed a 2-0 win. It;s City who are now strong favourites.

Match Verdict & Standout Players

This was always going to be a tight game where minimising defensive mistakes and taking goal scoring chances would be key.

Despite Manchester City being the better team over the course of the game it was Newcastle who had the best chances to go ahead. Failing to capitalise allowed City to play the game at their tempo and, inevitably, their quality led to chances of their own.

A fully match fit and sharp Wissa may well have scored from one of his chances and Nick Woltemade, after coming on as a substitute, was inches away from connecting with a cross that could have levelled the match.

City's goals were well worked and produced the easiest opportunities to score. Semenyo and Cherki made no mistake and left the away side deserved winners.

For Newcastle, Lewis Hall was the outstanding player. His close control, ability to go past City players with ease, and make aggressive forward runs, all were feature of his play throughout.

Manchester City had good performances across the pitch but it was Doku and Semenyo on the wings who were a constant threat. An assist and a goal from those two players might have put the tie beyond Newcastle's reach.

However, Newcastle have already beaten City this season and if they can get the first goal at the Etihad then all may not be lost.

Watch extended highlights of the game,

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