Man City vs Newcastle: Marmoush shines as Sky Blues complete job against Magpies to book Arsenal clash

Omar Marmoush scored a brace to help Manchester City finish the job against Newcastle, beating the Toons 3-1 at the Etihad after a 2-0 victory in the first-leg at St James's Park.

City carried a 2–0 advantage from the first leg and never let Newcastle back into contention, cruising into the final with three first-half goals that put the tie beyond doubt. They will face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the final, after the beat Chelsea to advance.

Manchester City made a blistering start to the second-leg tie. In the 7th minute, Omar Marmoush opened the scoring with a composed finish from inside the box after good build-up play, sending the Etihad crowd into early celebration and putting the Citizens 3–0 up on aggregate.

City quickly doubled their lead in the tie when Marmoush struck again in the 29th minute, this time rising highest to head into a vacated goal after Antoine Semenyo’s cross caught their defence flat-footed.

Just three minutes later, Tijjani Reijnders added a third, drilling a low finish into the corner after a neat passing sequence into the penalty area to make it 3–0 on the night and 5–0 on aggregate, leaving Newcastle with a mountain to climb. 

Newcastle did pull one back in the 62nd minute through Anthony Elanga, who finished off an incredible solo run, giving the away fans something to cheer and breaking City keeper James Trafford’s clean sheet. 

But the goal proved little more than consolation. City struggled to control possession in the final stages of the match, with major chances falling to Elanga and Joan Wissa. However, Barcelona ultimately overcame the hurdle.