What an incredible advert for the FA Cup. But a seriously bad day for Newcastle as they crashed out, Anthony Gordon’s sending-off rules him out of the Carabao Cup final and the gruelling 120 minutes left others playing on one leg.
It was an absolutely bonkers fifth round tie decided by a wonderful piece of quality from Brighton ’s supersub Danny Welbeck, who left the pocket of away fans singing about Wembley. Brighton were terrific as their Newcastle hoodoo struck again and they have now beaten the Toon Army in their last five meetings in the FA Cup and this was their second win at St James’s Park this season.
It was no more than the visitors deserved as Brighton had 21 shots to Newcastle’s 15 and you just could not take your eyes off what must have been a superb Sunday afternoon TV entertainment.
But at what cost? Both teams finished the game with ten men as Tariq Lamptey was also sent off for Brighton after getting two yellow cards, the second for a clumsy foul in the 91st minute.
And yet that did not come close to the stupidity of Gordon’s moment of madness as his frustration boiled over, he lashed out and cuffed Jan Paul Van Hecke around the head as they chased a ball. Not only did it cost Newcastle on the day, it rules him out of the Wembley showdown with Liverpool in a fortnight’s time. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe did not acknowledge him when he left the pitch.
Then, worryingly, Alexander Isak - who had given Newcastle the lead from the penalty spot - did not last the full 90 minutes and their players looked shattered at the final whistle. The Newcastle fans voiced their frustrations as boos rang round the stadium at the end but that was probably more out of disappointment than anything else.
Brighton are now in their fourth quarter final since the 2017/18 season and you have to give huge credit to the way they have responded since they were humiliated 7-0 at Nottingham Forest last month.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is clearly highly demanding even to the point of berating Joao Pedro - who gave absolutely everything to the cause - when he did not chase back in the dying embers of extra time. The reality was he couldn’t run.
Soon after, Brighton’s players were celebrating wildly while Newcastle’s were on their knees. If anyone doubted the value of the domestic cups then you only need to look at this to see what it means.
Newcastle started well enough and went ahead through a crazy moment in keeping with the game. Brighton’s former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh made a reckless challenge on Tino Livramento and it was a nailed-on penalty. Isak smashed home his 23rd goal of the season.
Brighton levelled just before half time. Pedro threaded a ball through to Minteh who raced clear, his shot was deflected off Kieran Trippier and past Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka.
Brighton took charge but could not finish their chances. Howe threw on the big guns as Bruno Guimaraes, Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock came on. Willock missed a gilt-edged chance.
Gordon got his marching orders after 83 minutes. Newcastle retreated and then came back after Lamptey saw red. It was madness. Newcastle’s Fabian Schar thought he had won it at the death only for VAR to rule him offside.
Extra time was crazy. It was now a war of attrition. Then the decisive moment in the 114th minute. Pedro fought for the ball, Livramento could not move let alone make a challenge.
Solly March provided a lovely through ball and Welbeck lifted the ball over Dubravka. Welbeck is a two-time FA Cup winner. He was not fully fit and was therefore only a substitute. But even at 34, there are not many English strikers playing better than him in the Premier League.
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