{"id":289263,"date":"2023-09-27T21:35:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T21:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=289263"},"modified":"2023-09-27T21:35:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T21:35:40","slug":"alexander-isak-grabs-winner-as-newcastle-beat-manchester-city-in-carabao-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/alexander-isak-grabs-winner-as-newcastle-beat-manchester-city-in-carabao-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Isak grabs winner as Newcastle beat Manchester City in Carabao Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Alexander Isak fired Newcastle into the Carabao Cup fourth round at the expense of Manchester City.<\/p>\n
The Sweden international struck eight minutes after the break to seal a 1-0 victory for the Magpies \u2013 their first over City in any competition in 11 attempts \u2013 in front of a crowd of 51,692 at St James Park.<\/p>\n
Their place in the draw was reward for a dogged display by a team featuring 10 changes to the one which started Sunday\u2019s 8-0 Premier League victory Sheffield United, but one which was particularly hard-earned after they were given the run-around before the break by Pep Guardiola\u2019s under-studies.<\/p>\n
Guardiola made eight changes, three of them to include Mateo Kovacic, Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish, and \u2013 while having indicated in advance that the competition was the least of his priorities \u2013 saw his side dominate for long periods but ultimately fail to turn the pressure they exerted into goals.<\/p>\n
With Phillips and Kovacic controlling the midfield battle, the Magpies were absent as an attacking force for much of the first half.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
By contrast the link between Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb \u2013 making his first senior start \u2013 and Sergio Gomez down the City right proved profitable repeatedly.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Nick Pope was called upon for the first time with 18 minutes gone when Bobb turned smartly on Phillips\u2019 ball to feet and raced towards goal before feeding Julian Alvarez, whose low shot was blocked by the keeper\u2019s boot.<\/p>\n
Paul Dummett had to make a perfectly-timed challenge to deny Grealish a clear run at goal and Sandro Tonali threw himself into the path of Kovacic\u2019s goal-bound strike with Newcastle\u2019s inability to retain the ball causing them all kinds of problems.<\/p>\n
Alvarez blazed a 28th-minute shot across goal after running on to Bobb\u2019s clever flick from Kovacic\u2019s square ball as the home side chased shadows, although they might have changed the narrative of the first half four minutes before the break.<\/p>\n
Joelinton\u2019s interception on halfway allowed Isak to feed Jacob Murphy, who surged forward before firing across keeper Stefan Ortega, who blocked with a leg.<\/p>\n
Eddie Howe made a double change before the restart, replacing Lewis Hall and 17-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley, who was also starting for the first time, with Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon and the Magpies instantly had a better balance.<\/p>\n
Tonali saw a 48th-minute shot blocked after he, Murphy and Tino Livramento had combined down the right and Newcastle were ahead five minutes later.<\/p>\n
Murphy cut inside and found Joelinton, who powered his way into the penalty area before smashing the ball across goal from a tight angle to find the unmarked Isak, who finished with ease at the far post.<\/p>\n
In an instant, the atmosphere inside St James\u2019 Park changed with the visitors finding themselves under sustained pressure for the first time.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
Grealish curled a 75th-minute shot into Pope\u2019s arms as City responded, but their efforts were tepid and Guardiola was booked by referee Chris Kavanagh as he vented his frustration on the sideline.<\/p>\n
His mood did not improve as City\u2019s weak efforts to redeem themselves came to nothing despite Phil Foden\u2019s introduction.<\/p>\n