Manchester City cruised into their 10th Carabao Cup final after sweeping aside holders Newcastle United 5-1 on aggregate in a dominant semi-final display at the Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Already 2-0 up from the first leg, City tightened their grip on the tie within six minutes of the return fixture when Omar Marmoush – handed a start in place of Erling Haaland – capitalised on a defensive lapse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Omar Marmoush grabbed a brace and Tijjani Reijnders added a third as City opened up a 3-0 lead inside 32 minutes at the Etihad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Newcastle pulled one back just past the hour-mark, but it was too little, too late as we recorded a resounding 5-1 scoreline over the two matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marmoush pounced on a loose ball and saw his deflected effort loop over Aaron Ramsdale to settle any early nerves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ramsdale kept Newcastle afloat moments later with an outstanding save to deny Tijjani Reijnders, before the visitors carved out openings of their own.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
James Trafford, however, produced two brave stops in quick succession, smothering at the feet of Joe Willock and then Anthony Gordon to preserve City’s advantage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Those missed chances proved costly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marmoush doubled his tally on the half\u2011hour mark with a close\u2011range header, and Reijnders reacted quickest to a loose ball shortly before the interval to make it 3-0 on the night and effectively end the contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Those missed chances proved costly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Harvey Barnes later had a goal ruled out, but by then the damage was done.<\/p>\r\n\r\n