Newcastle vs Brentford Report

Scorers: Tonali 9’, 43’, Schär 69’; Wissa 90+1’

Sandro Tonali’s first-half brace powered Newcastle United past Brentford to secure a second EFL Cup semi-final appearance in three seasons, extending their unbeaten home record against the Bees to 89 years.

First Half: Tonali Shines as Newcastle Dominate

Buoyed by a dominant 4-0 Premier League win over Leicester City, Newcastle carried their momentum into this clash, taking the lead inside 10 minutes.

Tino Livramento’s low cross, which seemed to have been dealt with by Nathan Collins, fell invitingly to Sandro Tonali, who struck a clinical first-time finish into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Brentford’s response was muted, save for a brief penalty appeal by Yoane Wissa, which was waved away. Defensive injuries compounded the visitors’ woes as Ethan Pinnock joined Sepp van den Berg on the sidelines, further destabilising Brentford’s backline.

Newcastle capitalised on this fragility just before HT, with Tonali doubling the advantage. The Italian midfielder showcased excellent timing to volley past Mark Flekken, registering his first brace for the Magpies.

Newcastle continued to pile on the pressure, and Jacob Murphy came agonisingly close to a third, hitting the post with a precise side-footed effort.

Second Half: Newcastle Seal Progress

Despite their uphill battle, Brentford started the second half brightly but failed to sustain their momentum. Newcastle remained dangerous on the break, with Anthony Gordon narrowly missing the target twice and Murphy curling another effort just wide.

The hosts finally extinguished any hopes of a Brentford comeback in the 69th minute, with a well-worked team goal. Lewis Hall’s shot was parried by Flekken, allowing Bruno Guimarães to square the rebound for Fabian Schär, who tapped in to make it 3-0.

Brentford found a consolation in stoppage time through Yoane Wissa, who calmly side-footed home, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

What’s Next?

Newcastle’s eighth consecutive home win in the League Cup sees them progress to the semi-finals, keeping alive their hopes of ending their trophy drought since 1955.

Brentford’s away struggles continue, leaving Thomas Frank’s side winless on the road against any Premier League opponent this season.

For Newcastle, this result sets the stage for another potential cup run, as they aim to go one step further than their 2023 final loss to Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Brentford will need to regroup and refocus on their league campaign, where their away form remains a glaring concern.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Carabao Cup draw, Final date, results, fixtures, stats, rules – The English Football League