Semenyo and Cherki score as Man City beat Newcastle in the EFL Cup
Manchester City secured a valuable 2-0 away victory over Newcastle United in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, striking twice after the break to put one foot in Wembley’s showpiece final.
The holders were pushed to their limits at St James’ Park, but a combination of clinical finishing and resilient defending ensured Pep Guardiola’s side left Tyneside with a commanding advantage.
The opening 45 minutes offered intensity but little cutting edge. Newcastle began on the front foot, pressing aggressively and carving out the best chance of the half when Jacob Murphy’s threaded pass released Yoane Wissa.
The striker had only James Trafford to beat but skewed over wastefully with the goal at his mercy. Joelinton also went close with a glancing header, while City mustered just a pair of late corners before the break as the game drifted into a tactical, attritional battle.
The semi-final exploded into life early in the second half. Moments after a lengthy stoppage for Jacob Ramsey’s head injury, Jeremy Doku produced the spark City needed. Surging from the left flank, the Belgian drove a low cross that Bernardo Silva deftly flicked across goal, leaving Antoine Semenyo with a simple tap-in from close range.
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The January signing has made an immediate impression and has now scored in both of his City appearances.
Newcastle responded strongly. Gordon, Guimaraes and Wissa all forced saves from Trafford, the young goalkeeper producing a superb double stop to claw out a looping header before tipping Guimaraes’ rebound onto the post.
The Magpies continued to probe, with substitutes Sandro Tonali, Anthony Elanga and Nick Woltemade adding fresh urgency.
City thought they had put the tie beyond reach midway through the half when Semenyo cleverly back-heeled a second goal from a corner.
However, a protracted four-minute VAR check ruled Erling Haaland to be interfering with Nick Pope’s line of sight, and the visitors’ celebrations were abruptly curtailed.
The hosts went all out for an equaliser, committing bodies forward and stretching play wide. Yet as the pressure mounted, Guardiola’s side found room to counter, and their composure finally told deep into stoppage time.
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New signing Rayan Ait-Nouri made an instant impact after coming on in the 88th minute. Linking smartly with Rayan Cherki, the Algerian full-back exchanged a slick one-two in the box following Antoine Semenyo’s long throw.
Cherki, revelling in his new No. 10 role, swept home a first-time finish into the bottom corner to seal the victory in the 98th minute.
The goal—his second in two EFL Cup outings—gives City a commanding second-leg cushion and caps a growing contribution from the French attacker, who has now registered three goal involvements in the competition.
Newcastle continued to fight until the final whistle, but Guardiola’s changes, game management and the clinical power of City’s frontline proved decisive.
The tie now heads to the Etihad Stadium with the holders firmly in control. For Eddie Howe’s men, belief remains, but they will require a turnaround of significant proportions to prevent City from advancing to another domestic final.
