Longstaff fires masterful Magpies to Carabao showpiece
Coming into the contest with a one-goal cushion from the first leg, Newcastle wasted little time in asserting their authority on proceedings, as they found an early breakthrough within five minutes. A brilliant piece of footwork in midfield from Bruno Guimarães released Kieran Trippier, who threaded a clever ball into the path of Sean Longstaff to fire into the far corner for his second goal of the season.
Having made the perfect start in front of a buoyant home crowd, the Magpies continued to dominate the opening 15 minutes, with Longstaff and Joelinton both going close to finding the net. Newcastle’s unrelenting pressure finally paid dividends in the 21st minute, when a free-flowing team move involving Joe Willock and Joelinton culminated in Miguel Almirón cutting the ball back to Longstaff to sweep home from the penalty spot.
Faced with the daunting task of overturning a three-goal deficit, Southampton made the first step of recovery on the half-hour mark. A misplaced pass from Willock was intercepted by Ché Adams, and the Scottish international fired a superb long-range strike into the bottom corner - ending Newcastle’s run of eight consecutive home clean sheets across all competitions.
The hosts would be forgiven for sitting back after Southampton’s goal, but the Magpies looked to be positive in the early stages of the second half, although a lack of cutting edge in the final third meant clear-cut chances were at a premium. The opportunities finally arrived with 15 minutes left on the clock, as Nick Pope spread himself to thwart Adam Armstrong, while at the other end, Gavin Bazunu denied Longstaff and Alexander Isak with a brilliant double save.
Any hopes of a comfortable finale for the home support were dealt a blow with ten minutes remaining, as talisman Guimarães was dismissed for a high challenge on Samuel Edozie following a VAR review. Despite the late setback, Newcastle held firm during the closing exchanges to secure a historic victory, setting up a mouthwatering clash with either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest in the final.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United)
