Newcastle United booked their place within the semi-finals of the League Cup with a convincing 3-1 win over Brentford at St. James’ Park on Wednesday evening.
The Magpies will now wait to search out out who they are going to be enjoying over two legs within the January semi-finals, within the hopes of returning to Wembley for the primary time since 2023.
Sandro Tonali’s first-half double had the hosts in entrance on the break earlier than Fabian Schar made certain of the outcome with a second-half end from shut vary, with Yoane Wissa netting a comfort in stoppage-time.
The headline of the evening was, in fact, the efficiency of Newcastle’s quantity eight in the course of the park, because the Italian stole the present.
Sandro Tonali’s match-winning efficiency
It was the Italy worldwide who set the tone for the night at St. James’ Park together with his rasping effort from distance within the ninth minute to make it 1-0, beating Mark Flekken with a low drive.
The previous AC Milan star added his and Newcastle’s second of the match simply earlier than half-time as Anthony Gordon’s nook was met on the volley by the midfielder to beat the Brentford ‘keeper at his close to put up.
Tonali’s two objectives have been removed from the one spectacular facet of his efficiency, nonetheless, because the central midfielder additionally accomplished 93% (56/60) of his attempted passes, to assist the Magpies management the sport.
The Italian dynamo additionally received six of his 11 floor duels, finishing 4 tackles to win possession again for Newcastle, which reveals that he supplied high quality out and in of possession.
Performance in Numbers
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Fortunately, Tonali’s phenomenal efficiency in midfield for Eddie Howe saved Alexander Isak, who didn’t get pleasure from his best evening at St. James’ Park towards the Bees.
Alexander Isak’s efficiency in numbers
The Sweden worldwide performed, arguably, his worst recreation of the season on Wednesday evening, but it surely didn’t matter ultimately due to the Italy worldwide’s magic show.
For the first time in any aggressive recreation this season, Isak misplaced 100% of his duels (minimal 5 contested), didn’t register a single shot on track, didn’t generate any ‘huge possibilities’, and had below 30 touches in additional than 45 minutes.
He performed the opening 77 minutes of the match and didn’t have any important contribution to the match in or out of possession for the Magpies.
|
Vs Brentford |
Alexander Isak |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
77 |
|
Pictures on track |
0 |
|
Passes accomplished |
12 |
|
Massive possibilities created |
0 |
|
Duels received |
0/6 |
As you may see within the desk above, Isak was dominated by the Brentford defenders, who outmuscled him out of the sport, and didn’t register a shot on track or create a ‘huge probability’ for his staff.
The 25-year-old sensation, who has produced seven goals and 4 assists in 14 outings within the Premier League this season, merely had an off evening and struggled to work his method into the match – in what was his worst efficiency of the marketing campaign.
Howe, although, will probably be happy that his staff may nonetheless rating three objectives and safe a spot within the semi-final of the League Cup with out his star striker on the peak of his powers, because it reveals the standard depth to his facet.
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It reveals the energy of the Newcastle staff {that a} participant like Tonali can step up from midfield to attain two objectives to avoid wasting the day when Isak is just not at his finest.
