Semenyo strikes again as Man City take control against Newcastle

City seize semifinal advantage

Manchester City moved a step closer to another Carabao Cup final after earning a 2-0 away win over holders Newcastle in the first leg of their semifinal tie. Antoine Semenyo continued his strong start at his new club, scoring for the second game in a row, before Rayan Cherki sealed the victory with a superb late goal.

The result gives Pep Guardiola’s side a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg at the Etihad Stadium on February 4, leaving Newcastle with a mountain to climb if they are to keep their hopes of retaining the trophy alive.

Newcastle waste early chances

Newcastle started brightly and should have taken the lead inside five minutes. Anthony Gordon’s early ball released Jacob Murphy down the right, and his low cross found Yoane Wissa in space, but the forward sliced his effort over the bar from a promising position.

City responded by gradually asserting control. Jérémy Doku and Semenyo stretched the pitch, forcing Newcastle deeper, while Nick Pope had to intervene early to prevent Bernardo Silva’s dangerous cross from reaching Erling Haaland.

Despite plenty of physical battles in midfield, including bookings for Joelinton and Nico O’Reilly after an off-the-ball clash, the first half ended goalless with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

Semenyo makes the difference

Newcastle came out strongly after the break and went agonisingly close when James Trafford clawed away Wissa’s looping header, only for Bruno Guimarães to strike the post with the rebound.

Those missed chances proved costly. Three minutes later, City struck. Silva reacted quickest to Doku’s cross, nudging the ball into Semenyo’s path, and the winger finished calmly from close range to give City the lead.

Semenyo thought he had doubled his tally shortly after, flicking in from a corner, but the goal was ruled out following a lengthy VAR review for an offside involving Haaland.

Cherki delivers the killer blow

Newcastle pushed forward in search of a lifeline, but City remained composed. Pope denied Cherki twice as the visitors looked to kill the tie, and that moment finally arrived deep into stoppage time.

Cherki exchanged passes with Rayan Aït-Nouri before sliding a composed finish beyond Pope to make it 2-0, silencing the home crowd and underlining City’s control of the tie.

With a clean sheet and a two-goal cushion, City return home firmly in command, while Newcastle are left to rue missed opportunities on a frustrating night.