Julius OkorieThey are non-contenders for premier league title this season. They are also not tipped by analysts to claim top four finish, but Newcastle and their supporters can go to bed happy and fulfilled this season.
This follows their impressive performance in the finals of the Carabao Cup on Sunday, beating premier league table toppers, Liverpool, 2-1 to claim the title.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt was not just a trophy; it was unique as it ended the Magpies 70-year trophy wait. The final played at the Wembley Stadium in front of 88,513 spectators saw the Magpies shoot into the lead at the mark of the first 45 minutes, thanks to Dan Burn.
Alexander Isak increased the tally in the 52nd minute, leaving Liverpool in search of remedy. The Reds consolation goal came way too late but thanks all the same to Federico Chiesa in four minutes of added time.
The Magpies won the 1955 FA Cup final, but their next five final appearances (three FA Cup, two League Cup) had each ended in defeat – the last of which came in 2023, when they lost 2-0 to Man Utd in this very fixture.
There was tense moment when Federico Chiesa’s 94th-minute goal was confirmed after a lengthy VAR review. It was not enough to help Liverpool find the equaliser that would have sent the game to extra-time. It was Newcastle’s lucky day.
Newcastle coach, Eddie Howe, is hoping that the jinx breaking win will mark a turnaround point for the club.
“We wanted to do the football club proud today,” said Eddie Howe. “We are trying to break new ground and hopefully this is a turning point for us.”
There were discussions about the Newcastle hoodoo in the build-up to the game. The fans were desperate for it to end, and the players did not let that expectation weigh them down. A confident start kept the black and white end of Wembley vocal throughout.
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Liverpool managed just a single shot in the first half and only two touches in the opposition box, so it seemed it would be just Newcastle’s luck to concede a penalty when the ball struck Trippier’s hand as he attempted to hook it out of the box. VAR reviewed the incident, but decided there had been no foul play.
If there is one person that was thrilled by the Magpies feat on Sunday, it was the club legend Alan Shearer who described it as dream come true, admitting that it has been long in coming.
“This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. It’s been a long journey, but this victory shows the strength and passion of this club,” he said during a post-match interview.
It is however not an occasion for lamentation for League title chasing Liverpool as they still hold the record of most wins in the Carabao cup with 10 titles beginning with their first win in 1981. The last was last year, 2024 when they defeated Chelsea by a lone goal to pocket their 10th trophy of the championship.
Manchester City hold the second most wins with 8 titles while Manchester United are in the third place with 6 wins, the last being in 2023. Aston Villa and Chelsea boast of five wins of the championship each.
The championship originally known as English League Cup, is currently known as Carabao Cup, for sponsorship reasons.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
