Gateshead 2 Newcastle United Under-21s 4 | OneFootball

Four goals were netted in a frantic first-half, with Alfie Harrison's strike opening the scoring for the young Magpies before Jovan Malcolm's solo effort levelled the Group C clash at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Josh Donaldson sent the visitors back in front, firing home from Johnny Emerson's cross, but Newcastle's second-string were back on level terms in quick fashion following Callum Tripp's strike.

Garang Kuol's second-half penalty and Darren Palmer's close-range header, however, helped United's youngsters secure maximum points, qualifying for the last-eight in the process.

Requiring a victory to keep their hopes of progressing into the quarter-finals alive, Newcastle got off to the perfect start as Harrison, who joined the Magpies from Manchester City in February 2024, scored for the visitors. After Anthony Munda intercepted Owen Mason's intended clearance, the Cowgate-born midfielder fed the ball into Harrison's path, who directed an effort from the edge of the box into the bottom right-hand corner.

Harrison was unfortunate not to double his and United's tally seconds later as the Keighley-born youngster attempted a speculative effort from distance, forcing Mason into pedalling back towards goal before tipping the ball over his own crossbar.

Donaldson took his turn in front of goal as the 19-year-old striker latched onto Harrison's pass and despite evading the challenge of Jamie Bramwell, the Gateshead-born forward directed a low effort inches wide of the right-hand corner.

Newcastle were dealt a tough blow in the 14th minute as Gateshead equalised through Malcolm, who completed a solo run from distance before lifting the ball over Magpies goalkeeper James Taylor inside the penalty area.

United's youngsters, however, regained their one-goal cushion in the 18th minute as Donaldson netted his second goal in as many matches at under-21 level, arriving onto Emerson's inviting low cross from the left flank before rifling a first-time effort into the net.

The visitors' lead was distinguished for a second time as Tripp, making his Gateshead debut, levelled for the National League outfit. After Taylor was unable to collect a loose ball inside the box, Tripp was on hand to place the ball into an empty net.

Emerson almost turned from provider to goalscorer shortly after as the Carlisle-born winger, a representative of Scotland at under-19 level, saw a goal bound strike from the edge of the penalty area tipped over the bar by Mason before United skipper Cathal Heffernan headed over from Leo Shahar's resulting corner.

Harrison was unfortunate not to grab his second goal of the night before the break, latching onto Donaldson's pass before his deflected effort flew narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

In the second-half, Newcastle almost fell behind for the first time in the cup encounter as Tripp connected with a cross at the back post before his delicate chip over Taylor trickled across the goal line.

Munda went close to netting United's third goal of the night after Emerson's teasing cross from the left wing was pushed into the midfielder's path by Mason but his drilled low effort was blocked the legs of the Gateshead goalkeeper.

Darren Palmer, introduced from the substitutes' bench shortly after the hour mark, almost made an immediate impact as the South Shields-born youngster latched onto a through ball before his powerful drive was blocked by Mason.

The 19-year-old winger, who signed his first professional contract with United last summer, was denied minutes later after connecting with Dylan Charlton's cross into the box, following Sean Neave's neat dummy, but his first-time effort was blocked from point-blank range by Mason.

Kuol, who represented Australia at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, regained Newcastle's lead from the penalty spot in the 75th minute. After being bundled over inside the box, the Cairo-born teenager dispatched the resulting spot-kick after firing his effort from 12 yards into the bottom left-hand corner.

In the 83rd minute, Palmer extended the visitors' lead after rising high from Kuol's cross before guiding a close-range header into the net. The goal, ultimately, proved key as results elsewhere in Group C saw Newcastle qualify as group winners via goal difference.