By Olaitan Ibrahim
Newcastle United have finally ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought, clinching the Carabao Cup with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Eddie Howe’s men delivered a spirited performance, outclassing Liverpool in a tense final that had everything—VAR drama, disallowed goals, and a late fightback that nearly turned the contest on its head.
The breakthrough came in the dying moments of the first half when towering defender Dan Burn rose highest to meet a corner, planting a powerful header into the left post. The Newcastle faithful erupted as their team took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Moments into the second half, Newcastle thought they had doubled their lead through Alexander Isak, only for the linesman’s flag to cut short the celebrations. VAR intervened, confirming the goal was offside, leaving the Magpies momentarily deflated.
However, their frustration lasted just a minute. Isak, determined to make his mark, showed his predatory instincts inside the box, firing a clinical shot into the left post in the 52nd minute to give Newcastle a commanding 2-0 lead.
Liverpool, desperate to keep their silverware hopes alive, threw everything forward. Curtis Jones forced a world-class save from Nick Pope in the 59th minute, while Kelleher denied Isak from securing a brace minutes later.
As Newcastle fans counted down the seconds, Liverpool found a glimmer of hope deep into stoppage time. Federico Chiesa slotted the ball into the net in the 94th minute, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised. VAR was called upon again, and after a tense review, the goal was given, sparking wild celebrations in the Liverpool camp.
With only seconds left on the clock, Newcastle dug deep, holding firm against a desperate Liverpool onslaught. The final whistle finally rang out, confirming their long-awaited triumph.
Newcastle’s win marks their first domestic trophy since 1955, a victory that will go down in club history. The Magpies’ fans, who had endured decades of near misses, can finally celebrate as their team lifts a major title at Wembley.