Newcastle United finally ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy, defeating defending champions Liverpool 2-1 in a thrilling Carabao Cup final at Wembley. The Magpies had last tasted cup glory in 1955, when they won the FA Cup. However, since then, they had reached five finals — three in the FA Cup and two in the League Cup — but had been left disappointed every time, including a loss to Manchester United in last year’s final.
This time, however, the team delivered a performance that fulfilled the long-standing hopes of a generation of fans. A towering header from lifelong Newcastle supporter Dan Burn just before the break and a brilliant strike from talismanic forward Alexander Isak shortly after halftime put the Magpies on the path to a long-awaited victory.
Liverpool’s hopes were revived in the dying seconds of the match when Federico Chiesa netted a 94th-minute goal following a lengthy VAR review, but it was not enough to force extra time. The final whistle blew, and the long-awaited cup win was secured.
There was much discussion leading up to the game about Newcastle’s long-standing cup misfortune, with fans desperate for an end to the hoodoo. The players, however, remained unfazed by the weight of expectation and started the match confidently. Their early pressure kept the black-and-white-clad supporters at Wembley vocally engaged.
Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali both had chances from distance in the opening minutes, with each player unable to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Andy Robertson blocked efforts from Isak and Kieran Trippier, and Bruno Guimarães’ header was easily saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool’s first-half performance was lackluster, managing only a single shot on goal and just two touches inside the opposition’s box. This seemed to set the stage for Newcastle to capitalize on their dominance, and it appeared they would be unlucky to concede a penalty when Trippier’s hand made contact with the ball in the box. However, after a VAR review, the referee ruled no foul had occurred.
In the first minute of stoppage time, the breakthrough finally arrived. Burn, darting into the penalty area from the left, met an outswinging corner and powered home a stunning header from 15 yards out. The goal was a dream come true for Burn, a boyhood Newcastle fan, and the stadium erupted in celebration.
The second half saw Newcastle’s advantage double within 10 minutes. Isak, who had seen a close-range shot ruled offside moments earlier, found the net again, finishing expertly into the bottom left corner after Jacob Murphy headed Tino Livramento’s cross into his path.
Liverpool attempted to mount a response, with substitute Curtis Jones forcing an excellent one-handed save from Nick Pope just before the hour mark. Despite manager Arne Slot pushing for a more attacking approach in the final stages, Liverpool could not break through.
In the dying seconds of the match, Chiesa broke through and slotted the ball home, but after an offside flag, the VAR review confirmed the goal. However, with only moments left on the clock, it was too little too late. The game ended, and Newcastle had secured a historic 2-1 victory, ending a long drought and securing their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.
