Man City set up hotly anticipated final against Arsenal by thrashing Newcastle in Carabao Cup | OneFootball

Manchester City booked their 22nd trip to Wembley under boss Pep Guardiola after thrashing League Cup holders Newcastle 3-1 on the night.

The visitors came to the Etihad with an uphill task needing to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, which quickly doubled after Omar Marmoush’s brace inside half hour.

It was not long before Tijjani Reijnders added to that tally, poaching from close range for three.

Newcastle substitute Anthony Elanga pulled one back on the hour mark, but his whipped finish was nothing more than a consolation as City prevailed as 5-1 aggregate winners.

With Guardiola opting to start with Marmoush, he repaid his manager’s faith. The 26-year-old struggled for minutes in the first half of the season, but has played himself into form upon return from the AFCON having also netted against Wolves last month.

It was his fast start in which City found their first in the seventh minute, exchanging well with Reijnders down the left. After a huge stroke of luck where Dan Burn aimed to clear, the ball ricocheted off the Egyptian, looping over Aaron Ramsdale.

Marmoush’s second will go down as one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score, when Kieran Trippier made a hash of his clearance on the line, Marmoush reacted quickest to head home from one yard out.

Newcastle had chances of their own up the other end through Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon, though James Trafford stood tall.

The tie was sealed before the interval when Reijnders got in on the act, poaching from inside the area and sending Ramsdale the wrong way.

As City took their foot off the gas, Eddie Howe’s side did manage to get in behind on a number of occasions, but were unable to add to Elanga’s smart finish.

City will play Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on March 22 with Guardiola aiming to get his hands on a fifth League Cup trophy.