Manchester City Take a Step into EFL Cup Final With 2-0 Win Over Newcastle, Await Second Leg.

Kenya, January 14 2026 - Manchester City have taken a massive step toward another piece of silverware after securing a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at St James’ Park.

City dominated much of the game but still had to wait until just after the hour mark to open the scoring. Antoine Semenyo found the breakthrough in the 53rd minute, slotting home from close range after good build-up play from his teammates. It was yet another goal in quick succession for the Ghanaian, who has now scored in each of his first two appearances for the club.

Newcastle battled hard and even saw a penalty claim turned down and the woodwork hit, but City’s defense stood firm. As the match headed into the latter stages, Newcastle pressed for a late equaliser, but City remained resilient. In stoppage time, substitute Rayan Cherki sealed the win with a superb finish in the 98th minute, giving Pep Guardiola’s side a commanding lead to take into the second leg.

Despite Newcastle’s spirited performance, including two moments when they struck the woodwork, City showed experience and composure when it mattered most. The visitors now head back to the Etihad Stadium with a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg.

Now attention turns to the other semi-final between Arsenal and Chelsea, with the winner set to face City in the EFL Cup final. Arsenal’s dynamic squad will be tested against Chelsea’s experience and European pedigree, setting up a mouth-watering tie to decide Pep Guardiola’s next opponent in the race for domestic glory.

The mission is simple for ManchesterCity: add another trophy to a glittering domestic schedule and reinforce their status at the top of English football. But with Arsenal and Chelsea still to play out their tie, the final lineup won’t be certain until that semi-final concludes.

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