Omar Marmoush Brace Sends Man City to Carabao Cup Final vs Arsenal

Manchester City advanced to the Carabao Cup final with a 3-1 second-leg victory over Newcastle United, sealing a 5-1 aggregate win. A brace from Omar Marmoush was instrumental in the victory, setting up a final showdown with Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on March 22. Manager Pep Guardiola expressed frustration after the match over defender Marc Guehi being ruled ineligible for the final due to a competition registration rule. Guardiola publicly called for the rule to be reconsidered so the recently signed player could feature in the title decider.

Key Points: Man City Reach Carabao Cup Final After Beating Newcastle

  • City win 3-1 (5-1 agg.)
  • Omar Marmoush scores brace
  • Final vs Arsenal on March 22
  • Guardiola frustrated by ineligible player
  • Marc Guehi ruled out by cup rule
2 min read

Brace from Omar Marmoush helps Man City seal Carabao Cup final with Arsenal

Manchester City defeats Newcastle 3-1 (5-1 agg.) to set up a Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley, despite Pep Guardiola's frustration over a player rule.

"Hopefully they can change it. - Pep Guardiola"

Manchester, February 5

Manchester City secured a 5-1 win on aggregate after a brace from Omar Marmoush helped the multi-time Premier League champions secure a 3-1 win over Newcastle United in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal, setting up a title clash with Arsenal.

In the previous leg, City had emerged victorious by 2-0 over Newcastle. The current champions aimed for a comeback during the second leg, but Omar had some other plans, setting up a clash of two English football titans on March 22 at Wembley Stadium.

The current champions, who ended their 70-year-long wait for some major trophy last year with this trophy, hoped for a fine start, but in the seventh minute, a tackle attempt from Dan Burn went in vain as it sent the ball flying over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Omar doubled City's lead with a header in the 29th minute, and the scoreline read 2-0. Just three minutes later, Tijjani Reijnders was assisted by Antoine Semenyo, who left the ball in the box for Tijjani to drive effortlessly into the net.

A bottom corner strike from Anthony Elanga in the 62nd minute opened Newcastle's goal tally. An effort by Harvey Barnes was ruled out for off-side and Elanga missed an effort to score, leaving the scoreline undisturbed for the remainder of the time.

Despite securing the win, City manager Pep Guardiola was left frustrated at Marc Guehi being ineligible to play the title clash, as under the rule Rule 6.4.2 of the competition, a player signed after the semifinal first leg cannot play the remainder of the competition. The former Crystal Palace star was signed by City after the first-leg win, which rules him out of the tournament.

Guardiola told Sky Sports: "Hopefully in March, we can arrive with the players fit and hopefully you can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc Guehi can play in the final because it is difficult to understand that the club who make a big investment to pay one player who belongs to us and I do not understand why he cannot play the final.

"So hopefully we write a letter, and hopefully the Carabao Cup can understand. He is not able to play for a rule that I do not understand why. Hopefully, they can change it," he concluded.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As a neutral fan in India, I just want a good final! City vs Arsenal is the clash everyone wanted. Hope it's a more competitive match than this semi-final. Newcastle looked completely out of ideas.
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Ananya R
Pep's frustration is understandable, but rules are rules. They knew about it before signing Guehi, no? Still, City's squad is deep enough to handle it. The real story is another final for them. Their consistency is unbelievable.
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Vikram M
Staying up late to watch this was worth it! Marmoush is a gem. As an Indian football fan, watching these European leagues is a treat. Can't wait for the final, though it will be another 2 AM kickoff for us! ☕
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Michael C
The rule seems archaic. It punishes clubs for conducting smart business in the transfer window. If a player is registered and eligible for the league, he should be eligible for the cup final. The competition organizers need to modernize.
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Priya S
Arsenal fan here! Bring it on, City. We have a score to settle. This final is going to be epic. Forget the rules debate, let's just talk about the football. Arteta vs Pep at Wembley... what a spectacle!

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