Manchester City beat Newcastle 3-1 at the Etihad to complete a 5-1 aggregate win and set up a Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
Manchester City booked their place in the Carabao Cup final after a commanding 3-1 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. The result sealed a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory in the semifinal. Newcastle arrived needing an early breakthrough but suffered the worst possible start. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring inside seven minutes to deflate any away belief. His deflected effort looped beyond Aaron Ramsdale and into the net.
The early goal allowed City to dictate tempo and territory. Newcastle attempted to respond through quick transitions and early pressure. James Trafford was alert to smother chances from Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon. Those missed moments soon proved costly. City punished the visitors with ruthless efficiency.
City doubled their lead on 29 minutes as Marmoush struck again. Antoine Semenyo delivered from the right and the Egyptian forward headed home from close range. It was his second of the night and his fifth City goal against Newcastle at the Etihad. Newcastle struggled to deal with City runners between the lines. Their defensive shape repeatedly collapsed under pressure.
The third goal arrived before halftime to end the contest as a tie. Tijjani Reijnders finished calmly after another incisive City move. Semenyo again played a key role in the buildup. City went into the break three goals clear on the night. The atmosphere reflected a job effectively done.
Newcastle emerged with more urgency in the second half and were rewarded on 62 minutes. Anthony Elanga produced a fine individual effort, cutting inside and curling past Trafford. The goal offered brief hope of respectability. Harvey Barnes later had an effort ruled out for offside. Elanga also missed a clear chance to add another.
Despite those moments, City rarely looked troubled. Pep Guardiola’s side managed the game with maturity. Possession was recycled calmly and space limited. Newcastle’s earlier defensive damage could not be undone. The aggregate gap remained overwhelming.
City’s dominance was built on clinical finishing rather than volume shooting. They scored three times from their first four shots on target. Marmoush now has 12 goals for City this season. Five of those have come against Newcastle at home. City have also won 18 of their last 19 home meetings with the Magpies.
Newcastle’s struggles away from home continued on a difficult night. They have now lost 11 straight away games against City. Injuries added to their problems, with Anthony Gordon forced off before halftime. Eddie Howe was left frustrated by another slow start.
Marmoush’s movement and sharp finishing set the tone from the opening minutes. Reijnders controlled midfield spaces and capped his display with a goal. Semenyo’s direct running unsettled Newcastle throughout the first half. Trafford’s early saves prevented a possible momentum shift. For Newcastle, Elanga’s goal was the lone bright spot.
Manchester City will face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22. The clash pits Pep Guardiola against his former assistant Mikel Arteta. City return to Premier League action away at Liverpool this weekend. Newcastle host Brentford as they refocus on domestic priorities.
