Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki both scored as Manchester City took control of their Carabao Cup semi-final against holders Newcastle United.
Semenyo only completed his £65m move from Bournemouth less than a week ago, but the new arrival has already made a huge impact.
After netting one and setting up another on his debut, in the club record-equalling 10-1 rout against Exeter City at the weekend, the forward stepped up with a crucial opener in the first leg of this semi-final at St James’ Park.
Semenyo, who later had a goal disallowed, was in the right place at the right time to convert at the back post after Jeremy Doku’s cross was hooked on by Bernardo Silva.
No wonder Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe rued how Semenyo was eligible to play on Tuesday night following a rule change – despite already featuring for Bournemouth earlier in the competition.
But Newcastle’s evening got worse deep into stoppage time when substitute Cherki doubled his side’s advantage after lashing the ball into the net.
How Newcastle will rue what might have been after twice hitting the woodwork when the score was goalless.
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford tipped Yoane Wissa’s looping header on to the crossbar before Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes struck the bar with a rasping effort just seconds later.
Wissa also had a golden opportunity to put his side in front early on – only to scoop the ball over the bar from close range.
But it was Manchester City, the eight-time winners, who take a commanding lead back to the Etihad when these sides meet again in the return fixture on 4 February.
Newcastle analysis: No late, late turnaround this time
A huge roar went up inside St James’ when nine minutes of stoppage time were added on. Understandably so.
It was just last week that Newcastle scored two scarcely believable late goals to defeat Leeds United in a 4-3 classic.
The home support dared to dream once more – but there was to be no grandstand finish for the hosts this time.
This time Cherki landed what felt like a mortal blow in the 98th minute as Newcastle supporters streamed out.
What a contrast to the scenes before kick-off.
The home fans certainly believed as a huge flag display depicted the Wembley arch above a banner, which read “Gannin’ Alang Wembley Way”.
The noise was raucous.
Trafford, who turned down a move to Newcastle to return to Manchester last summer, was booed mercilessly throughout. Throw-ins and corners were celebrated. The roar that greeted Semenyo’s goal being disallowed was deafening in the second half.
Howe knew his side had to feed off it and take something back to Manchester next month.
There was a different dynamic to this game, as a result, compared to previous semi-finals when Newcastle went away first, in 2023 and 2025, before finishing the job off at a febrile St James’.
But this was ultimately a case of what might have been for Newcastle on a night they fired a rare blank.
An almighty challenge now awaits.
Newcastle have only ever won once at the Etihad, and Howe’s side have yet to even score in the stadium since he took charge in 2021.
This team are going to have to finally overcome that hoodoo – and some – to return to Wembley.
“We’re still alive,” Howe said. “We’re still in there fighting. It’s very difficult to turn it around but it’s still possible and football can conjure up some magical moments.
“Last year we were on the other side of this scoreline. We went to Arsenal, won 2-0 in that game and we felt it was still very much alive.
“It was all about the next goal in the tie. I think that’s going to be the case in this one. If we can get the next goal, we are still very much in it.”
Man City analysis: Guardiola’s side take control
Shamoon Hafez, Football reporter at St James’ Park
City came into this semi-final on the back of Saturday’s 10-1 trouncing of Exeter City in the FA Cup third round, and though the Magpies posed a completely different challenge, the visitors took control of the tie.
Guardiola’s side had to contend with a raucous St James’ Park atmosphere and though they quietened the hostile crowd with their passing patterns in the first half, they did not manage to work any efforts on Pope’s goal.
But it was the travelling City faithful high up in the stadium that were dancing by full-time – new signing Semenyo tapping home the opener from close range for his second goal in as many starts since joining from Bournemouth last Friday.
The Ghanaian appears to have settled in straight away at City and thought he had doubled his side’s lead 10 minutes later when he flicked in an instinctive finish from Tijjani Reijnders’ corner, but referee Chris Kavanagh disallowed the effort after watching a replay on the pitchside monitor.
City staff – and those in the stadium – were left perplexed not only because Erling Haaland was adjudged to be offside, but because of the length of time it took for the decision to be made – there were five minutes and 30 seconds between the ball hitting the net and Kavanagh making his announcement to rule out the goal.
Haaland, meanwhile, made his first appearance in the competition in three years but the Norwegian’s recent poor run of form continued, now failing to score from open play in his last six games and netting just one penalty during that sequence.
Substitute Cherki was twice denied by Pope after coming on, but the Frenchman swept in late on to complete a fine team move and give his side a vital two-goal cushion heading into the second leg.
City go into the return meeting at Etihad Stadium on 4 February with recent history on their side as they have progressed from their last six Carabao Cup semi-finals and gone on to lift the trophy on each occasion. They are now heavy favourites to reach Wembley again in this competition for the first time since 2021.
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