Pep Guardiola’s side moved to within touching distance of another domestic final despite VAR controversy in Manchester City 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at St James’ Park.
The Sky Blues controlled long spells of the contest, showed their attacking depth, and left the north-east with a commanding advantage ahead of the return fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet, despite City’s dominance and a professional away performance, much of the post-match discussion centred on a controversial VAR call that denied Antoine Semenyo what appeared to be his second goal of the night.
The Ghana international was left visibly frustrated by the decision and did little to hide his feelings once the final whistle had blown.
City take control as Semenyo shines on Tyneside
From the opening stages, Manchester City played with the calm assurance of a team used to high-pressure occasions. Newcastle, backed by a raucous home crowd, tried to press aggressively, but City’s midfield control and positional discipline gradually took the sting out of the hosts’ approach.
Semenyo, making another strong impression following his January move from Bournemouth, continued the fine form that has quickly endeared him to Guardiola.
Signed for a fee reported to be just under £65m, the 26-year-old has wasted little time in settling into City’s attacking system, blending physical power with intelligent movement in the final third.
His confidence was already high after scoring his first goal for the club in the emphatic 10-1 FA Cup win over Exeter at the weekend, and he carried that momentum into this semi-final. City’s opener came after sustained pressure, with the visitors probing down both flanks and forcing Newcastle deeper into their own half.
After 53 minutes, the breakthrough arrived. Jeremy Doku surged down the left-hand side, beating Harvey Barnes before cutting the ball back from close to the byline.
Bernardo Silva flicked the cross on at the near post, and Semenyo reacted quickest inside the six-yard box, getting ahead of Anthony Gordon to tap home from close range.
It was a simple finish, but one that underlined Semenyo’s sharp instincts in the penalty area. For Newcastle, it was a familiar problem: allowing City too much space out wide and failing to deal with runners arriving late into dangerous areas.
The goal briefly quietened the home crowd, but the atmosphere soon reignited when City thought they had doubled their lead just 10 minutes later. Once again, Semenyo was in the right place at the right time, converting from a corner to what looked like a decisive second goal.
What followed, however, was one of the most drawn-out and contentious VAR checks of the season.
Semenyo reacts to VAR controversy in Manchester City 2-0 victory over Newcastle UnitedÂ
The celebrations were cut short as referee and officials consulted the video assistant referee, leading to a six-minute delay that tested the patience of players, coaches and supporters alike.
Eventually, the goal was ruled out, with Erling Haaland judged to be offside in the build-up by the narrowest of margins.
The decision was met with loud cheers from the Newcastle supporters, while City players looked on in disbelief. For Semenyo, it was a particularly bitter moment, having believed he had scored his second goal in as many games for the club and put the tie firmly beyond the hosts.
Buoyed by the reprieve, Newcastle attempted to respond. Eddie Howe introduced fresh legs and urged his side to show more urgency in attack.
Sandro Tonali came closest to pulling a goal back when his effort from the edge of the area drifted just wide of James Trafford’s left-hand post with 20 minutes remaining.
Despite the presence of key figures such as Tonali and Nick Woltemade, Newcastle struggled to break down City’s well-organised defence. Guardiola’s side managed the game expertly, slowing the tempo when needed and keeping possession under pressure to frustrate the home team.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Newcastle pushed numbers forward in search of a lifeline, but that ambition ultimately left them exposed at the back.
In the 99th minute, Rayan Cherki delivered the decisive blow, finishing clinically to give City a two-goal cushion to take back to Manchester.
The goal marked Cherki’s third in as many Carabao Cup appearances, following strikes against Brentford and Swansea City, and further highlighted the depth of attacking options at Guardiola’s disposal.
While City players celebrated another important step towards a cup final, Semenyo’s frustration was still evident as he left the pitch. Caught speaking directly into a camera after the final whistle, the forward made his feelings clear with a brief but pointed message.
He said: “Second goal should have counted by the way. Just saying.”
Later, when asked about the incident during an interview, Semenyo expanded slightly on the decision, though his sense of disappointment remained obvious.
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He said: “The second goal should have counted.
“The referee came and spoke to me and told me what was going on. It is what it is.”
For Newcastle, the task now looks daunting. Overturning a two-goal deficit away at the Etihad Stadium will require a near-perfect performance, particularly against a City side so adept at controlling games when holding an aggregate lead.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will take confidence from both the result and the performances of their recent signings.
Semenyo’s sharp start to life under Guardiola suggests he could play a key role in the decisive stages of the season, even if this night on Tyneside left him feeling he should have had more to show for his efforts.
As attention turns to the second leg next month, the tie appears firmly in City’s hands — though the debate over the VAR controversy in Manchester City 2-0 victory over Newcastle United is likely to rumble on long after the final whistle.
