Manchester City swept aside Newcastle United to book their place at Wembley with a commanding performance at the Etihad Stadium.
Three goals inside the opening period effectively settled the contest and secured a 5-1 aggregate triumph that rarely looked in doubt.
Omar Marmoush was the architect of the early damage, scoring twice before the half-hour mark, while Tijjani Reijnders added a third as Pep Guardiola’s side underlined the gulf between the teams on the night.
Although Anthony Elanga reduced the deficit after the interval, City’s progress to the Carabao Cup final was never seriously threatened.
The result ended Newcastle’s hopes of retaining the trophy they won last season and set up a showpiece meeting with Premier League leaders Arsenal.
It also brought further concern for Eddie Howe, who saw influential forward Anthony Gordon forced off with an injury before half-time.
Guardiola opted to start with Marmoush rather than Erling Haaland, a decision that paid immediate dividends.
With one eye on the weekend trip to Liverpool, the City manager rotated his options, yet his side began with the intensity of a team determined to finish the job quickly.
Newcastle needed a fast start to revive the tie, but within seven minutes their task became even harder.
Marmoush surged into the penalty area and, despite being challenged by Dan Burn, benefited from a fortunate ricochet as the ball clipped his shin and looped over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The element of luck mattered little to the home supporters who sensed the contest slipping away from the visitors.
City were not entirely secure at the back and Newcastle almost responded instantly.
Gordon created an opening for Joe Willock, but hesitation allowed James Trafford to gather. Gordon himself later tested the City keeper, yet the majority of chances fell to the hosts, with Reijnders and Antoine Semenyo repeatedly stretching the Magpies’ defence.
Marmoush doubled his tally midway through the half in similarly unpredictable fashion. Trippier attempted to clear Semenyo’s cross, only for the ball to balloon invitingly into the air.
The Egyptian reacted quickest, guiding a close-range header beyond Ramsdale to all but end the tie.
Reijnders had been influential in both build-ups and soon crowned his display with a goal of his own.
Driving powerfully from deep, the Dutch midfielder exchanged passes before finishing confidently after Semenyo was unable to beat Burn. By then the atmosphere inside the stadium had turned celebratory.
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Speaking after the match, Tijjani Reijnders promised Manchester City supporters that the team will do everything possible to win the final at Wembley stadium.
He said: “I play football because I want to win trophies, and now going to Wembley – my first time there – that will be amazing. We will do everything to win the Carabao Cup!”
“We were very eager to go to the Carabao Cup Final and we showed that from the first minute. Amazing team performance”
Guardiola is likely to welcome that determination as his squad prepare for a demanding end to the season.
The manager will be aware that tougher examinations await, beginning with Arsenal in the final, but on this evidence his players are approaching the decisive weeks in confident mood.
