Manchester United vs Newcastle LIVE: Carabao Cup final result and reaction as Erik ten Hag wins first trophy
Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle: Casemiro header and Sven Botman own goal help United win first trophy in six years
Manchester United defeated Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final to win their first trophy in six years while ensuring the Magpies’ 68-year wait for a taste of domestic silverware continues.
A first half header from Casemiro opened the scoring before Marcus Rashford’s shot deflected off Sven Botman, beating stand-in Newcastle goalkeeper Loris Karius, to put Erik ten Hag’s side ahead at half time.
Newcastle had been the better team until Casemiro’s opener, with David de Gea producing an important stop to deny the excellent Allan Saint-Maximin, but Eddie Howe’s team could not find a response after the restart.
It means United lift their first piece of silverware since the Europa League in 2017 after Ten Hag steered the club to a trophy in his first season in charge. Newcastle were playing in their first cup final in 24 years, but a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United is the same result as their previous visit to Wembley in the 1999 FA Cup final.
Follow all the reaction from the Carabao Cup final as Manchester United defeated Newcastle at Wembley:
What happened in the semi-finals?
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 on aggregate over two legs in the semi-finals and never looked like losing that tie. It was a comfortable victory and cemeted their role as favourites to go on and win the competition.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle team reached their first domestic final since 1999 with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Southampton. The Magpies edged the first leg 1-0 away from home after squandering plenty of chances before taking a 2-0 lead at St. James’ Park (3-0 on aggregate).
Che Adams clawed one back for the Saints which caused a few nervous moments for Newcastle - including Bruno Guimaraes getting sent off - but Howe’s men closed out the match and confirmed their place at Wembley.
Newcastle fans take over Trafalgar Square ahead of Carabao Cup final
Newcastle United supporters have gathered in central London’s Trafalgar Square ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Fans of the Magpies have travelled down from the North East in large numbers for the match, their first appearance in the final of a major cup since losing 2-0 to United in the 1998/99 FA Cup final.
The 32,761 tickets allocated to the club at the 90,000-seater Wembley Stadium sold out within a week and the travelling fans have wasted no time getting acquainted with the capital.
Supporters congregated in Trafalgar Square as the sun set, singing terrace chants together, drinking cans of beer and letting off smoke bombs in the club’s black and white colours.
Newcastle fans take over Trafalgar Square ahead of Carabao Cup final
Thousands of fans of the North East club gathered in central London before the game at Wembley on Sunday.
Newcastle United fans gather in Trafalgar Square ahead of Carabao Cup final
Watch as Newcastle United fans flock to London and gather in Trafalgar Square ahead of the Carabao Cup final this afternoon.
Man Utd vs Newcastle latest odds
Odds (result in 90 mins)
Manchester United: 11/10
Draw: 23/10
Newcastle: 13/5
Man Utd vs Newcastle predicted line-ups
Manchester United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
Newcastle United XI: Karius; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
What is the early team news?
Manchester United talisman Marcus Rashford faces a race against time to be fit after limping out Thursday’s clash with Barcelona, while the Red Devils will also be without Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek and likely Anthony Martial, who has a hip problem.
Antony and Harry Maguire shook off their knocks to return for the Barca game and the former may be preferred to Wout Weghorst, while Jadon Sancho is also pushing for a start.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have something of a goalkeeper crisis as undisputed No 1 Nick Pope is suspended after his ludicrous red card against Liverpool and his backup - ex-Man United loanee Martin Dubravka - is cup-tied. That means the much-maligned Loris Karius will seek cup final redemption after his horrendous 2018 Champions League final display for Liverpool.
On a brighter note, Bruno Guimaraes has served his domestic suspension and can return, while Joelinton and Joe Willock are aiming to shake off thigh concerns, although Anthony Gordon is cup-tied.
How to watch the Carabao Cup final
The match will kick off at 4.30pm GMT on Sunday 26th February. It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.
If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Carabao Cup final
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Carabao Cup final which sees Manchester United take on Newcastle at Wembley. Kick off for this crunch match is at 4.30pm and there’s plenty to talk about before the action gets underway.
This trophy represents something bigger for both teams.
After the Saudi takeover of Newcastle, manager Eddie Howe has done a fantastic job of bringing success to the club. First he comfortably kept them in the Premier League before kicking on this season and challenging for the top four. Winning the league cup today would be a crowing achievement and Howe’s name would be permanently written into the history and folklore of Newcastle United.
Erik ten Hag is doing a similar job for Manchester United. After a few lean years and some false starts trying to rebuild the team, the Dutchman seems to have cracked the code. United’s triumph over Barcelona in the Europa League play-offs was their biggest scalp under Ten Hag who himself overcame a rocky start to get the Red Devils competing on four fronts. They’re hovering on the edge of a Premier League title race, still in FA Cup, through to the Europa League last-16 and have the chance to win the Carabao Cup this afternoon.
The Red Devils have not lifted silverware since Jose Mourinho led them to a Europa League triumph in 2017 but the prospects of winning a trophy this year seems strong under Ten Hag. Standing in their way are Newcastle who have been waiting 68 years for another domestic cup triumph.
Either way the story of the victorious team today will be a good one but who will lift the Carabao Cup?
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments