Newcastle through to first major final in 24 years
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United booked its place in a first major final in 24 years by overcoming Southampton 21 at home yesterday in the teams’ League Cup semifinal second leg to seal a 31 victory on aggregate.
Newcastle won the first leg 10 away last week, through a late strike from Joelinton, and local man Sean Longstaff got it off to an ideal start in the return by opening the scoring in the fifth minute.
It was the midfielder’s first goal at St James’ Park in almost four years and he struck again in the 21st minute, knocking in a cutback from Miguel Almiron to finish off a flowing team move sparked by a slalom run forward by Joe Willock.
Che Adams gave Southampton some hope with a bolt from the blue later in the first half after pouncing on a sloppy back pass by Willock and, in the second half, fellow striker Adam Armstrong had a glorious chance to level the score on the night but was thwarted by goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was shown a straight red card in the 82nd minute after a VAR review for a studsup tackle on Samuel Edozie but Eddie Howe’s side survived playing the final stretch of the match with 10 men.
Under the competition rules, Guimaraes is set to serve a threematch ban in the league for the dismissal but will be free to play again in the cup final on February 26.
Newcastle will play either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest in the final at Wembley. United held a 30 lead before the second leg at Old Trafford this morning.
It will be the Magpies’ first final since they lost 20 to United in the FA Cup showpiece in 1999 and their second appearance in
WELLINGTON: The Wellington Phoenix is seeking legal advice following the process used to redcard defender Tim Payne at the weekend.
Payne was sent off following intervention from the VAR which the Phoenix believe did not follow due process.
The club believes the incorrect process was followed by officials.
The All Whites defender was sent off early in the second half of the Phoenix’s round 14 ALeague match against Perth Glory in Palmerston North on Saturday, following intervention from the VAR.
Payne was initially issued a yellow card by the onfield referee for a foul on Perth forward the League Cup final, having lost to Manchester City in 1976.
They will be bidding to win their first trophy since the 1955 FA Cup.
‘‘I’ve never played in an atmosphere like that. We started off really well, scored two good goals, let them back into it a bit but we’re happy to get it over the line,’’ defender Dan Burns said. ‘‘It’s a special night.
‘‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had a night like this, an unbelievable night.’’
The win, achieved amid a scorching atmosphere and a sea of blackand whitescarves, was arguably the finest moment since Newcastle was taken over by a consortium backed by
Saudi Arabia in October 2021, when the team was in the Premier League relegation zone.
It is now third in the standings and pushing for a return to Champions League football.
‘‘It’s amazing what can happen in a year. We would have laughed at you if you said this 12 months ago. It’s really special what we’re building at the moment,’’ Longstaff said. — Reuters