Manchester City and Newcastle United both booked their places in the EFL Cup semi-finals with victories on Wednesday night, setting up a highly anticipated last-four meeting between the two sides.
Manchester City 2–0 Brentford (Etihad Stadium)
Manchester City progressed comfortably with a 2–0 win over Brentford in heavy rain at the Etihad Stadium, producing a controlled performance despite fielding a rotated side.
City took the lead in the 32nd minute when Rayan Cherki unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike after a corner was only partially cleared. Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession throughout the first half and went into the break 1–0 ahead.
Brentford began the second half brightly and threatened through Kristoffer Ajer and Michael Kayode, both denied by City goalkeeper James Trafford. However, City sealed the tie in the 67th minute when Savinho finished a swift counter-attack, his effort deflecting off Ajer on its way into the net.
City introduced several senior players from the bench, including Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Matheus Nunes, to maintain control. Brentford manager Keith Andrews praised his side’s courage despite their lack of cutting edge in the final third, on a night that marked Mathias Jensen’s 250th appearance for the club.
Newcastle United 2–1 Fulham (St James’ Park)
At St James’ Park, Newcastle United edged Fulham 2–1 in a dramatic contest decided deep into stoppage time.
Fulham struck first in the 10th minute when Yoane Wissa capitalized on defensive hesitation to give the visitors an early lead. The response was swift, with Saša Lukić equalizing just six minutes later to level the score at 1–1 heading into halftime.
The second half was fiercely contested, with both sides creating chances. Fulham came close late on through Kenny Tete, but the decisive moment arrived in the 90+2nd minute when Lewis Miley rose to head home the winner for Newcastle, sparking celebrations among the home crowd.
Newcastle introduced Anthony Elanga and Sandro Tonali late on as they pushed for a breakthrough, while Fulham were left frustrated after a spirited display.
What’s Next
The results send Manchester City and Newcastle United into the EFL Cup semi-finals, where the two sides will face each other for a place in the final. With City’s depth and Newcastle’s late-game resilience on display, the upcoming tie promises to be one of the highlights of the competition.
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