Newcastle Beat Spurs 2-0 to Continue Carabao Cup Title Defence | OneFootball

Schar and Woltemade Head Holders Into Last Eight

Newcastle United continued their Carabao Cup title defence with a confident 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park, thanks to first-half headers from Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade.

Eddie Howe made eight changes to his line-up, but the holders were sharp from the outset and took control through two brilliantly executed goals. Sandro Tonali’s pinpoint corner found Schar, who rose unchallenged above Lucas Bergvall to power a header beyond Antonin Kinsky midway through the first half.

Tottenham protested that the corner was taken while Djed Spence was still putting his boot back on, but referee Chris Kavanagh allowed the goal to stand. The visitors’ frustration grew as Newcastle continued to dominate the aerial battles that Spurs have often used to their own advantage this season.

The second goal arrived before the interval. Joe Willock, enjoying a lively evening in midfield, clipped a clever cross into the area for Woltemade. The German forward showed composure and strength to nod home his sixth goal of the campaign as Kinsky came out and missed the ball completely.

Newcastle Control the Contest as Spurs Struggle

Spurs almost responded immediately through Pape Sarr, whose fierce drive forced Aaron Ramsdale into a fine diving save, but Newcastle’s back line held firm. The hosts came closest to adding a third when Harvey Barnes struck the crossbar with an acrobatic effort.

The result never looked in doubt as Newcastle closed out the match professionally, booking their place in the last eight of the competition for the fourth consecutive year. The St James’ Park crowd celebrated long after the whistle, fully aware that dreams of another Wembley trip remain very much alive.

Howe’s Changes Pay Off as Geordies Dream of More Silverware

The fourth round has not been kind to defending Carabao Cup champions in recent years, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United all falling at this stage in the past three seasons. Newcastle, however, looked determined to break that trend.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes had spoken before the match about the squad’s ambition to “create history” once again, and those words were clearly taken to heart. Six of last season’s trophy-winning players were joined by five summer arrivals in a blend of experience and new energy that worked perfectly.

By the time Woltemade made it 2-0, the crowd were already in full voice, chanting about another possible Wembley appearance. Newcastle still have a long road ahead, but their belief and balance under Howe suggest they remain serious contenders.

Spurs Left to Rue Soft Goals and Missed Chances

For Tottenham, the defeat will sting. Thomas Frank named a relatively strong side, signalling clear intent to take the competition seriously. Yet defensive lapses proved costly once again.

The first goal exposed Spurs’ lack of focus, with players distracted by Spence’s brief absence instead of defending Tonali’s corner. The second was a mix of miscommunication and poor goalkeeping, as Kinsky rushed off his line only to see Woltemade rise highest to head into an empty net.

Despite Pape Sarr’s bright display and a handful of attacking moments, Spurs rarely looked like turning the game around. Their strong away form in the league failed to translate into cup success on Tyneside.

Frank will look for a quick response when his team host Chelsea at the weekend, while Newcastle’s focus shifts to their Premier League trip to West Ham before a Champions League night under the lights against Athletic Club.