Football

Newcastle edge Saints in EFL Cup semi-final first leg

January 25, 2023 8:15 am

[Source: BBC]

Newcastle United hold a slender advantage from the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg as Joelinton’s goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Southampton.

The Brazilian made amends for missing an earlier easy opportunity when he arrived on the end of substitute Alexander Isak’s perfect low cross to make the decisive contribution with 17 minutes left.

Newcastle will now be favourites to reach their first major Wembley final since the FA Cup in 1999 as they attempt to end a trophy drought stretching back to the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win.

Article continues after advertisement

And if Newcastle do complete the job in the second leg on Tyneside they will owe a debt of gratitude to Nick Pope, who made two vital second-half saves from Southampton substitute Che Adams with the score still goalless, extending his remarkable personal record to 10 successive clean sheets.

Southampton, who had what they thought was an equaliser from Adam Armstrong disallowed for handball by VAR, saw their night of frustration complete when defender Duje Caleta-Car was sent off in the closing minutes for a second yellow card.

Joelinton was a central figure, seeing a first-half goal contentiously ruled out for handball then blazing over an open goal when it seemed easier to score, before hitting the target to make Eddie Howe’s side firm favourites to reach Wembley.

The two sides meet at St James’ Park in the second leg on Tuesday, 31 January.