The two teams entered the game cautiously but still created many notable situations. Newcastle was the side that had clearer chances in the early period, with shots from Yoane Wissa and Joelinton, but accuracy was still lacking.
In the opposite direction, Man City controlled the ball slightly better, continuously deploying attacks on both wings thanks to Doku's speed and Bernardo Silva's control ability. However, shots from Phil Foden or Nathan Ake were neutralized by the home team's defense.
Stepping into the second half, the game became more open. Right at the beginning of the half, Newcastle continuously bombarded Man City's goal with a header from Wissa and a shot that hit the post by Bruno Guimaraes, forcing goalkeeper James Trafford to work hard.
However, when the home team had not yet taken advantage of the opportunity, Man City showed coolness at the right time. In the 53rd minute, from a close-range combination, newcomer Antoine Semenyo finished neatly to open the score for the away team after an assist from Bernardo Silva.
After conceding, Newcastle pushed up the squad to find an equalizer, while Man City proactively controlled the pace of the match. Although Semenyo once put the ball into the net for the second time, the goal was disallowed due to an offside error after VAR intervention. The final minutes witnessed significant pressure from Newcastle, but Man City's defense still stood firm.
When the match entered added time, the away team launched a finishing blow. In the 90+8 minute, Rayan Cherki took advantage of the space in the penalty area, finishing accurately with his left foot to seal a 2-0 victory.
This result helps Pep Guardiola's team take a big advantage before the second leg semi-final at home, taking place on February 5th.
