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27 min “I remember that old Match magazines used to call the winning goal the one that puts the team into the winning position that they don’t subsequently lose,” says Andy Flintoff. “This would be the 3-2 ‘go-ahead goal’, or the first in a 2-0 victory. Under this criterion, Dan Burn didn’t get the winner, but Paddy Madden, who scored the first did, as Yeovil at no point lost the lead from that point.”
Well I’m really confused now. Also, under this system, what do we call Michael Thomas’s goal against Liverpool at Anfield in 1989? Was Alan Smith the real hero all along?
26 min Newcastle work the ball patiently on the right. Eventually Trippier clips a superb pass towards Schar, who heads over from six yards under pressure from Martinez. Schar kept going after starting the move.
Both players are down; I’m not sure whether it was a clash of heads or just a collision.
25 min “I get the impression Fred is much better being deployed in the flexible role you describe (6 or 8 depending) rather than the additional defender protecting Maguire and Lindelof,” says Colum Farrelly.
Yep. He also saves his best games for the toughest opposition. A very confusing player, as some bloke called me wrote the other day.
24 min Nothing’s happening. You call this a cup final, lads?
23 min It might be a false alarm – he’s walking to the touchline, looking a bit dazed but not injured. He’s back on the field now.
Antony also seems okay for the time being.
22 min Dreadful news for Newcastle – Bruno Guimaraes is down, and his body language suggests his game might be over.
19 min Antony is holding his groin, and not with affection. He may have to go off here.
18 min Casemiro marches confidently past Burn but then underhits his through pass to Rashford. Man Utd still look a bit sluggish, though there isn’t much in the game.
17 min Antony whips a typical long-range curler straight at Karius.
15 min “Surprised that no-one has mentioned that Dan Burn has a Wembley goal to his name,” says Tim Ray. “He scored the winner for Yeovil Town in the League One play off final in 2013.”
Ah, now, I’ve always wondered about this – if you score a goal that makes it 2-0, and the final score is 2-1, as with Burn in 2013, did you score the winning goal? Yes, obviously, but I do think there are two tiers of winning goals, with the highest being the last goal in a one-goal victory. The Solksjaguero, if you will. Yes you bloody will!
This is probably for another day, let’s be honest.
14 min Antony plays in the underlapping Dalot, whose superb cross on the turn is cut out by the sliding Schar in the six-yard box. Bruno Guimaraes then takes the rebound off Fred’s toes near the penalty spot.
13 min: Chance for Weghorst! A loose ball falls for Weghorst, back to goal near the penalty spot. He mistimes a left-foot shot on the turn that bobbles through to Karius. That wasn’t a bad opportunity.
12 min Manchester United haven’t got going yet. Jamie Carragher, co-commentating on Sky Sports, makes the point that a fast start was important for Newcastle to take advantage of any lethargy that Man Utd might be feeling after their exertions against Barcelona.
10 min “Get Chris Paraskevas to send a picture!” says Joe Pearson.
He did but, for reasons too boring to explain, it’s not possible to upload reader pics during a game.
9 min Dalot is booked for a cynical foul on Saint-Maximin. The Newcastle players all surrounded the referee but he was going to book him anyway.
I thought Aaron Wan-Bissaka would play today, with Saint-Maximin in mind. Now Dalot really does have a problem.
8 min I listed United’s team as 4-2-3-1 but it’s more of a hybrid 4-3-3, with Fred playing as a No6 or a No8 as the situation requires, and Bruno Fernandes flitting between No8 and No10. I’m surprised more hasn’t been written about these increasingly popular three-tier midfields.
7 min Burn’s long throw is flicked on by Joelinton and headed by Shaw. Newcastle have made a really fast start.
6 min Newcastle have started brightly. Saint-Maximin’s low ball across the edge of the area is about to met by the onrushing Guimaraes when Fred makes a vital interception. He’s hurt in the process but he’ll be fine.
5 min “It’s 2.30am here at Cheers Bar in Sydney and I am in full Magpie costume,” says Chris Paraskevas. “The body part of it is manageable temperature wise but the Magpie head (actually it was a crow costume that I’ve spray painted white...) is causing severe dehydration. No matter. We are in the first cup final in my lifetime. My mate also bought me a signed Shola Ameobi postcard as a gift tonight. HWTL!!! I’m off to order another pint...”
Drink responsibl- ah, forget it.
3 min Casemiro, Varane and Weghorst all surround Karius at the corner, but it’s cleared at the near post and Newcastle break. Almiron runs 50 yards but then plays a poor ball that is cut out on the edge of the area by Shaw.
2 min Weghorst plays a good first-time pass to release Rashford on the left. He plays an early ball into the area, trying to find either Antony or Fernandes, and Burn gets there first to concede a corner.
1 min Loris Karius has a comfortable first touch, collecting an overhit ball forward.
1 min Peep peep! Bruno Fernandes gets the Carabao Cup final under way.
We’ve already had one big cup game today, this one in the women’s FA Cup.
Now the players intermingle behind a ‘Football Stands Together’ sign in support of those in Ukraine.
The players are standing for the national anthem, which is a good time to remind you of the teams.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1ish) de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
Substitutes: Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Sabitzer, Heaton, Sancho, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Garnacho.
Newcastle (4-3-3) Karius; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
Substitutes: Lascelles, Ritchie, Targett, Isak, Manquillo, Murphy, Willock, Gillespie, Anderson.
Manchester United fans lend their voice before kick-off.
The black and white end inside Wembley:
In other news, Erik ten Hag had dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson this week.
Teams
Marcus Rashford starts for Manchester United. And Loris Karius is in goal for Newcastle.
Man Utd v Newcastle, aka Qatar (*) v Saudi Arabia
The only league meeting between the teams this season was a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, when Man Utd were frustrated by Newcastle’s defensive excellence (and time management), and both were frustrated by the referee.
I managed a distressingly low 15/20. Et tu?
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the Carabao Cup final. I’m sure you’ve heard the latest score: Manchester United 6-54 Newcastle United. That’s how many years it has been, respectively, since these giant clubs won their last trophy. For one – but only one – the wait will end at Wembley today.
The trophy drought means that the Carabao Cup is a glorious end in itself, and today will be a snobbery-free occasion. But these renascent clubs also want it to be a stepping stone – the first of many trophies in a bright new era, just as it was for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea (2005), Sir Alex Ferguson’s last great United team (2006) and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City (2018). There’s a reason Brian Clough cherished the Anglo-Scottish Cup: the first trophy opens different neural pathways for an emerging team.
The final has come at the perfect time for Man Utd, who are bang in form and high on life under Erik ten Hag. Their stirring win over Barcelona on Thursday heightened the feeling that, for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired 10 years ago, something brilliant is happening at Old Trafford.
Newcastle have lost their way a little since qualifying for the final, with two draws and a defeat in the Premier League. They will also be without Nick Pope through suspension, which is probably the most compelling of all today’s subplots. But the irreplaceable Bruno Guimaraes will return from suspension, and Newcastle’s players – some of whom won’t be around for the next big final – know that this is their chance to become immortal. Question 4: name the starting XI that won Newcastle’s first major trophy since 1969.
Napoli are the only team across Europe’s big five leagues who have suffered fewer defeats in all competitions than Newcastle. Don’t be surprised if this goes to extra-time, maybe penalties.
Kick off 4.30pm.
English (US)