
Newcastle United on Sunday defeated Liverpool 2-1, securing their first major trophy since 1955.
The Magpies in a historic Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium defeated the Reds to clinch the first silverware of the 2024/25 football season, PUNCH Online reports.
The EFL match began with both teams displaying cautious play.
Newcastle broke the deadlock just before halftime when defender Dan Burn headed in a goal from a corner in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, Newcastle continued their dominance.
Alexander Isak doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Liverpool.
Liverpool struggled to respond effectively, with manager Arne Slot making several substitutions, including introducing Curtis Jones and Darwin Nรบรฑez, but they failed to penetrate Newcastleโs resolute defense.
However, Federico Chiesa pulled one back in th injury time (90+4) with all hopes high but to no avail to the Premier League table toppers.
The final whistle confirmed Newcastleโs 2-1 victory, ending their 70-year wait for a major trophy, The Guardian reports.
Coaches react
The win is also Eddie Howโs first cup win as a manager.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe praised his teamโs performance, saying, โThis is a dream come true for the club and the fans. The players showed incredible heart and determination to achieve this historic win.โ
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, visibly disappointed, admitted, โWe werenโt good enough in the critical moments. Newcastle deserved the win; they were the better team on the day.โ
Burn, van Dijk comments
Dan Burn, who opened the scoring for Newcastle, expressed his emotions post-match, saying, โTo score in a final and help the club end this long wait is beyond words.
โThis is for the fans who have stood by us all these years.โ
On the other hand, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, despite the disappointment, demonstrated great sportsmanship, congratulating Newcastle players and acknowledging their impressive performance.
Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, known for his emotional commentary, was visibly moved during the match, stating, โIโm almost crying seeing what this means to Newcastle fans. This is what football is all aboutโmoments like these.โ
Former Newcastle striker and club legend Alan Shearer joined in the celebrations at Wembley, expressing his joy.
โThis is the moment weโve all been waiting for. Itโs been a long journey, but this victory shows the strength and passion of this club,โ he said during a post-match interview.
Fans around the world echoed similar sentiments, flooding social media with tributes to the players and the manager, celebrating the end of a 70-year wait for silverware.
The Punch
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