Joelinton gives Newcastle slender advantage against Southampton in League Cup semi-final first leg
JOELINTON’S close-range finish gave Newcastle United a 1-0 aggregate lead in their League Cup semi-final tie against Southampton.
The Brazilian’s 73rdminute goal settled Tuesday’s first leg at St Mary’s Stadium in Newcastle’s favour though Southampton, who had Duje Caleta-Car sent off late on, had an equaliser disallowed.
Joelinton had a goal contentiously ruled out for handball in the first half and then missed a glorious chance shortly after the restart, but atoned when he converted Alexander Isak’s cross.
Video review denied former Newcastle striker Adam Armstrong a leveller less than four minutes later, with Southampton’s hopes further dented when Caleta-Car picked up a second booking.
Joe Willock wasted two good opportunities early on, hitting a wild effort over the crossbar following good work from Miguel Almiron before miscuing a volley from Kieran Trippier’s cross.
Willock was also involved when Newcastle were denied an opener. Gavin Bazunu parried his shot out to Joelinton, who was contentiously penalised for handball as he fired home the rebound.
Joelinton missed a huge
chance seven minutes after the restart, somehow blazing over an open goal from six yards out.
He made no mistake from his next chance, finishing into a gaping net after fantastic play from Isak down the right.
Armstrong thought he had denied his old club with a scruffy finish, only for a video review to rule he had handled the ball, and a frustrating outing for the hosts was capped when Caleta-Car received his marching orders for fouling Allan Saint-Maximin.
Newcastle spurned chances to further their advantage in stoppage time, but head into next week’s second leg knowing a draw would be enough to book their place in an League Cup final for the first time since 1976.