City Seize Control After St James' Park VAR Storm
Manchester City have one foot in the Carabao Cup final after a contentious and hard-fought 2-0 victory over holders Newcastle United in the first leg of their semi-final at St James' Park. The match was decided by second-half goals from Antoine Semenyo and substitute Rayan Cherki, but dominated by a lengthy VAR review that disallowed a second for the visitors.
Howe's Fears Realised as Semenyo Strikes
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe's pre-match concerns proved prophetic. He had been dismayed to learn that Antoine Semenyo was eligible to play for City, despite featuring in the competition earlier this season for Bournemouth. The £62.5m signing justified his inclusion by breaking the deadlock in the 53rd minute, finishing smartly after being set up by Bernardo Silva.
The first half had been a cagey affair, with both Erling Haaland and Newcastle's Yoane Wissa marginalised. The best early chance fell to the Magpies when Wissa blazed over from close range after a slick move involving Joelinton and Anthony Gordon. City goalkeeper James Trafford, once a target for Newcastle, was largely untroubled until making a crucial save from Wissa later on.
VAR Drama and a Late Killer Blow
The game's major flashpoint arrived shortly after Semenyo's opener. The forward thought he had doubled the lead with an audacious back-heel, but a five-minute VAR review eventually ruled the effort out for an offside against Erling Haaland in the build-up. The decision left Pep Guardiola visibly frustrated on the touchline.
Newcastle, buoyed by the reprieve, pushed for an equaliser. Substitute Sandro Tonali, introduced by Howe, forced a fine save from Trafford. However, City's quality told in the dying seconds as another substitute, Rayan Cherki, found the net in stoppage time to give the Premier League champions a commanding lead ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
The match was played against the backdrop of positive news for Newcastle, with the club's Saudi Arabian owners set to announce plans for a new £200m training ground at Woolsington Hall, near Newcastle Airport and Ponteland.
Newcastle's defence of the trophy they won in March now hangs by a thread, while Manchester City, with Trafford's assured goalkeeping and Semenyo's cutting edge, are firmly in the driving seat to reach Wembley.
