Manchester United lift the Carabao Cup at Wembley!

Carabao Cup

Words: EFL

Manchester United ended their six-year-long drought for silverware to the day under boss Erik ten Hag as the Red Devils saw off Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup Final 2023.

Goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford saw ten Hag’s men seal a 2-0 victory and lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium.

The first clear cut opening of the game fell to United striker Wout Weghorst with 13 minutes on the watch. The ball fell kindly to the Burnley loanee but his tame effort didn’t trouble keeper Loris Karius in the Toon goal.

At the other end of the pitch, Callum Wilson was unable to direct his header on target, glancing wide at the near post.

Soon after, Antony and Diogo Dalot combined down the right for the Red Devils. The latter’s ball into the box appeared to be a threatening one but Magpies skipper Kieran Trippier was there to sweep up.

Karius was called upon once again with 17 minutes played. Antony curled a shot goalward from the edge of the area but it was directed straight down the throat of the stopper.

Newcastle posed a threat as Trippier charged forward, looking to pick out Fabian Schar inside the area, but the Swiss international headed over the bar under pressure from Lisandro Martinez who required treatment before returning to his feet.

On the hour mark, Newcastle went close to rippling the net. Sean Longstaff fizzed a ball across the face of the United goal which was picked up by Allan Saint-Maximin. The winger got the better of Dalot but David de Gea produced the first save of the afternoon.

However, in the 33rd minute, it was United who drew first blood. Luke Shaw’s free-kick was met by Casemiro who rose highest and headed in the opener to make it 1-0 to Erik ten Hag’s side. A VAR check for a potential offside claim put the East side of Wembley on edge but it was ruled that the goal would stand.

And the competition’s leading scorer Marcus Rashford doubled United’s lead with 39 minutes on the clock. Fed by Weghorst, the striker took aim from close range and his scuffed shot took a deflection off Magpies defender Sven Botman, looping over Karius to make it 2-0. And the number 10 brought out his signature celebration for the occasion for his sixth goal in the Carabao Cup this season.

Minutes before the half time whistle sounded, Newcastle had the chance to half the deficit. A well-worked corner routine resulted in Dan Burn heading wide from Trippier’s cross.

In added time, Weghorst pulled the trigger from 20 yards out but, thankfully for the Magpies, Karius was equal to it, getting a strong palm to his effort to keep the score-line as it was. Nevertheless, Manchester United took a commanding lead into the break.

A rousing recital from the Toon supporters looked to inspire a second half fightback as the game got back underway after the interval but it wasn’t to be.

With 68 minutes played, Newcastle continued to ask questions of the Reds. Martinez made a crucial block to deny Joelinton who, at the second attempt, was kept out by the body of the Argentinian world champion.

Eddie Howe’s men came calling again around five minutes later with the Magpies looking to work the channels. Bruno Guimaraes set Trippier free down the right and de Gea was on hand to avert the danger but the flag was up against the full-back anyway.

Karius was called into action soon after to get a strong hand to Rashford’s shot after Schar was caught in possession by United.

With five minutes remaining of the Final, substitute Aaron Wan-Bissaka wanted to etch his name on the scoresheet but Karius dealt with it.

With the seconds ticking down, Jacob Murphy, introduced in the second period in place of Saint-Maximin, saw his effort bend just wide of the target, seemingly brushing the post on its way past, and Karius made a late stop to deny United a third through Bruno Fernandes at the death.

But it wasn’t to be for Newcastle who slipped to defeat at the National Stadium and Manchester United took all the glory on the day.

Manchester United: David de Gea, Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford (Harry Maguire 88’), Fred (Marcel Sabitzer 69’), Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Diogo Dalot (Aaron Wan-Bissaka 45’), Antony (Jadon Sancho 82’), Luke Shaw, Wout Weghorst (Scott McTominay 69’).

Newcastle United: Loris Karius, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin (Jacob Murphy 78’), Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff (Alexander Isak 45’), Bruno Guimaraes (Joe Willock 78’).