Newcastle take advantage of poor defending to gain revenge on Chelsea
Newcastle scored two goals in three first-half minutes to earn revenge over Chelsea with a 2-0 win and reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Three days on from their Premier League defeat to the Blues at Stamford Bridge, the Magpies responded with an impressive first-half display.
Alexander Isak pounced on a mistake at the back to score the opener before Joe Willock’s deflected header was turned in by Axel Disasi.
Chelsea put in an improved second-half performance and had their best chance of the match when Joao Felix fired wide, but last season’s runners-up were unable to find a response.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca named an entirely different starting XI from the weekend’s league clash, while Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe made five changes, which included the reintroduction of Anthony Gordon to the line-up after a groin problem.
The Magpies had a brilliant opportunity to snatch the lead just three minutes in when Isak fired a cross in from the right and Joelinton tapped the ball narrowly wide of the post on the half-volley.
Chelsea tested the home defence early on when a low cross from Marc Cucurella reached Renato Veiga in the centre of the box, but his strike was brilliantly defended by Sandro Tonali to go behind for a corner.
They nearly struck on the break when Felix burst forward, weaving through the centre of the pitch before blasting an effort over the crossbar.
Following some good spells of pressure around the box, the hosts took the lead in the 23rd minute.
Stemming from a short Chelsea goal-kick, where a loose pass from Benoit Badiashile saw Veiga muscled off the ball by Joelinton and Tonali stabbed a pass through for Isak, who tucked into the bottom corner.
Tonali nearly doubled the lead just moments later when his vicious strike whistled past the upright, but Newcastle wasted no time taking advantage of their momentum when a short free-kick allowed Isak to break down the left and cross, and Willock’s deflected header was bundled in by Disasi.
Felix proved to be dangerous for Chelsea on the break, but he had two efforts saved just before half-time.
An energetic start to the second half saw the Newcastle defence work well to block Christopher Nkunku’s effort before racing to the other end of the pitch where former Chelsea full-back Lewis Hall had a low shot saved by Filip Jorgensen.
The visitors began to enjoy spells of pressure around the Newcastle box, with Mykhailo Mudryk causing particular problems down the left flank.
He fired some teasing low crosses into the centre of the area, including one for Cucurella, who had his shot blocked before Nick Pope made two solid saves from Chelsea corners.
Moments after Sean Longstaff had a header disallowed for offside, Chelsea had an excellent opportunity to pull one back when a defence-splitting pass from Tosin Adarabioyo reached Felix, but the forward stabbed the ball narrowly past the post.
Newcastle nearly had a third in the final stages when Emil Krafth raced with the ball from his own half before laying it off to Will Osula, who blasted a low shot wide.