Tonali was the conductor and also the difference as Newcastle reached their second Carabao Cup semi-final in the three seasons
Newcastle 3-1 Brentford (Tonali 9′, 43′, Schar 69′ | Warn 90+1′)
ST JAMES’ PARK — Sandro Tonali’s celebration was almost as emphatic as his finish.
That is saying something considering the quality of the opening goal which helped nudge Newcastle into their second Carabao Cup semi-final in the last three seasons.
Granted, Tino Livramento had been busy enough down the right wing to force Nathan Collins into a hasty clearance but when the ball arrived at Tonali’s feet it nevertheless required something special.
Shooting from the outside the box is not exactly in vogue these days, but his fizzing drive was laced with enough menace to erode any doubt about where it was heading.
It was only Tonali’s second goal in black and white and 16 months, a long gambling ban and plenty of soul searching have passed since his first, which came on his debut in August 2023.
So it was little wonder that he looked overcome with emotion, emerging from a scrum of teammates to show his love for the home fans.
There was a story behind the sign. Last week reports emerged in Italy that he was unhappy at St James’ Park and craving a return to Serie A. Sick of not being centre stage was the theme of the piece, run through Google Translate a few thousand times by fretting Newcastle fans. It wasn’t true, those close to him said, but here he was grabbing the spotlight anyway.
A second Tonali goal on 43 minutes was every bit as good as the opener as he met Lewis Hall’s cross with the deftest of side-footed volleys. At that point Newcastle had an xG of 0.5 but a two-goal lead. That’s what players of Tonali’s calibre bring to the table.
He was the conductor here but also the difference. The Carabao Cup really matters at Newcastle – few need reminding that it’s 70 years since they won a domestic trophy – but Tonali’s goals punctured any tension floating around a sell-out crowd. Sell him? The Magpies know they would be mad to.
What a fillip this was for the man who had supported Tonali through his exile, too. Just a week ago Eddie Howe was the angriest he’d been as Newcastle manager after Brentford strolled through his side’s porous back four.
Two conclusive wins later and suddenly Newcastle’s season is brimming with possibility again. A Carabao Cup semi-final in the new year – and the tantalising prospect of a return to Wembley in the Spring – sustains the season nicely.
Not that the night came without a considerable cost for Howe’s side. Cautions for Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar – who scored the third to wrap up this game – will rule them out of the first leg. Given the paucity of Newcastle’s centre-back options they will hope Sven Botman’s January return remains on schedule.
Other than that it was fairly routine without ever being that comfortable. Newcastle cashed out on their fast start with an early goal and you expected an onslaught but it didn’t arrive. Instead there was a staccato flow to the first half, Brentford’s ability to dig in and sap the home side’s momentum a testament to the character that runs through Thomas Frank’s side.
They didn’t create an awful lot – save for Yoane Wisser swiping at a shot and then being downed by a hasty Martin Dubravka in a marginal penalty call – but they made life very difficult for Newcastle.
Inevitably their resistance waned in the second half. After Schar rolled home a third Harvey Barnes smacked a post as Newcastle fans sang about Wembley and winning a cup. Yoane Wissa scored in stoppage time but it didn’t matter.
Newcastle are in only the third League Cup semi-final in their history and Howe has delivered two of them. He has returned hope to St James’ Park.
