Newcastle Pull Off Upset, Defeating Manchester City 1-0 in Carabao Cup Clash
In a dramatic Carabao Cup showdown at St James’ Park, Newcastle United emerged victorious against Manchester City with a score of 1-0. The match unfolded in two distinct halves, with Swedish sensation Alexander Isak proving to be the hero for the Magpies.
This encounter marked the second meeting between the two teams this season, with a previous league match at the Etihad Stadium decided by a single early goal from Argentine Julian Alvarez.
Match highlight:
The game’s narrative took shape as Newcastle United made ten changes to their lineup from their recent historic victory against Sheffield United. Among those changes, Lewis Hall and 17-year-old Lewis Miley received their first starts. Manchester City, while not making as many changes, still shuffled their roster significantly. Only three players from their previous match maintained their starting positions.
The first half played out much like the typical script when Manchester City visits – they dominated possession, orchestrated plays in the final third, and probed for weaknesses in their opponents’ defense. Newcastle held firm, with goalkeeper Nick Pope making crucial saves, particularly against the lively youngster Oscar Bobb.
Newcastle’s defense, led by club captain Jamaal Lascelles and rarely seen Paul Dummett, held steady. On the right flank, Tino Livramento effectively contained Jack Grealish. Despite Manchester City’s dominance, they couldn’t find a way past.
Towards the end of the first half, Newcastle created their best chance of the game. Joelinton initiated a quick move, setting up Alexander Isak, who in turn played a precise pass to Jacob Murphy on the right wing. Murphy surged toward Stefan Ortega’s goal and unleashed a shot, well saved by the City backup keeper. It served as a warning sign for Manchester City of things to come in the second half.
As the first half concluded, it was evident that Manchester City had controlled the game, with Newcastle completing only seven passes in the final third. The outcome seemed inevitable.
At the start of the second half, Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe made two pivotal substitutions. Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes replaced the young duo of Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley. These changes altered the game’s dynamics entirely. Newcastle initiated a high press, disrupting Manchester City’s rhythm.
Intense pressing from Gordon, Isak, and Murphy led to throw-ins and corners, unsettling City’s defense. Newcastle started to pose a real threat.
Breaking the Deadlock:
In the 53rd minute, Jacob Murphy maneuvered past his marker and sprinted towards Manchester City’s box. He passed the ball to Joelinton, who burst through City’s defense. Although City tried to guide him wide, Joelinton managed to deliver a pass across the goalmouth, eluding Rico Lewis and finding Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker took a single touch and powered the ball into the net, putting Newcastle ahead 1-0.
Within 15 minutes of the second half, Newcastle’s final third touches had tripled. Their pressing caught City off guard, resulting in a well-deserved goal.
Around the hour mark, Isak, whose pressing was instrumental in Newcastle’s second-half resurgence, was substituted for Miguel Almiron, shifting Murphy to the center.
Manchester City also made changes, bringing on Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku for Nathan Ake and Mateo Kovacic. Nunes had a near-miss in the 83rd minute, saved by Livramento’s timely intervention.
Phil Foden entered the fray for City, replacing Alvarez. His combination play with Doku on the left wing created problems for Newcastle, unlike Grealish’s earlier attempts. Rico Lewis nearly made amends for his earlier defensive lapse, firing a shot wide in the 90th minute.
Six minutes of added time allowed Newcastle to play the clock down efficiently, securing a 1-0 victory that proved to be a mild shock for Pep Guardiola’s squad. Frustrated by the outcome, Guardiola received a yellow card for dissent in the closing stages of the match.
Player of the Match: Tino Livramento
Despite limited possession, this match demanded patience and defensive resilience from Newcastle, with Tino Livramento exemplifying these qualities. The young right-back displayed intelligence, composure, and a mature performance.
He effectively nullified Grealish’s impact, forcing the winger to take speculative long-range shots. Livramento’s performance resembled that of his senior counterpart, Kieran Trippier, making a strong case for a long-term role as Trippier’s successor at right-back. Eddie Howe can be confident in his choice based on Livramento’s stellar performance in this game.
