FA Cup: Welbeck's Extra-Time Goal Breaks Newcastle's Hopes

Synopsis

In a dramatic FA Cup clash, Newcastle United's hopes were shattered as Danny Welbeck's extra-time goal led Brighton to a 2-1 victory. Alexander Isak initially put Newcastle ahead, but Yankuba Minteh's equalizer forced extra time, where Welbeck's decisive strike ended the Magpies' cup ambitions.

Key Takeaways

Danny Welbeck scored in extra time to eliminate Newcastle.
Alexander Isak opened the scoring with a penalty.
Yankuba Minteh leveled the match before halftime.
Newcastle faced a red card that impacted their performance.
They will now focus on the upcoming Carabao Cup final.

Newcastle United faced a heartbreaking exit from the FA Cup as Danny Welbeck netted a decisive goal in extra time, leading to a 2-1 triumph for Brighton & Hove Albion at St James Park. This result sent Eddie Howe's team crashing out of the tournament.

The Magpies initially took the lead with a goal from Alexander Isak, but Yankuba Minteh, a former Newcastle player who never played competitively for the club, equalized for Brighton, pushing the match into extra time. Isak’s penalty, awarded after Minteh fouled Tino Livramento, marked his 22nd goal of the season, giving Newcastle an early advantage. However, Minteh’s clever finish shortly before halftime equalized the match, setting the stage for a tense second half.

Isak had the first real opportunity of the match, sending a header wide from a superb cross by Harvey Barnes. Despite dominating the early exchanges, Newcastle struggled to capitalize, with Isak's subsequent attempt being blocked and Gordon’s shot saved by Bart Verbruggen.

As the match progressed, Brighton found their rhythm, and Minteh’s intelligent run and finish, following a pass from João Pedro, ensured the teams were level at halftime. The second half turned into a fiercely contested battle, with Martin Dúbravka making a crucial save from Pedro, while Isak and Bruno Guimarães had their chances thwarted by Brighton's resolute defense.

In a pivotal moment, Anthony Gordon received a straight red card after an altercation with Jan Paul van Hecke, a decision that significantly impacted Newcastle's prospects. Brighton's advantage was short-lived, however, as Tariq Lamptey was also dismissed for a foul on Jacob Murphy.

Despite Newcastle's valiant efforts, including a disallowed goal from Fabian Schar, it was Welbeck who delivered the killer blow in the 114th minute. After a careless mistake in midfield, Welbeck seized the opportunity and calmly finished over Dúbravka, sealing the victory.

In the closing moments, a late effort from Dan Burn went wide, and Newcastle could not force penalties, leaving them to ponder a disappointing exit. The team will now focus on the Carabao Cup final, where they will meet Liverpool in hopes of ending their lengthy pursuit of silverware.