MANCHESTER CITY’S Egyptian king reigned supreme over Newcastle again.
It is now seven goals in four games for Omar Marmoush against the Mags – exactly half of his total haul for the club.
Omar Marmoush haunted Newcastle again as he struck twice in Man City’s 3-1 winCredit: Reuters
The Egyptian’s goals delighted Pep Guardiola as City cruised into the next round of the FA CupCredit: Getty
The 27-year-old once more had them dancing to his tune with a scintillating display at St. James’ Park.
It was his double, after Savinho had levelled Harvey Barnes’ opener, that
While Pep Guardiola’s side are still fighting on four fronts, it leaves opposite number Eddie Howe left trying to pick up the pieces of faltering season.
It is no secret the Toon boss is sick of the sight of opponent Guardiola. This is the fifth meeting between this season alone. A sixth could even potentially occur on May 30 in the Champions League final.
But after they ended their defence of the Carabao Cup with a thumping 5-1 aggregate semi final triumph just weeks ago, they ruthlessly destroyed Newcastle’s FA Cup dream too.
Perhaps with that potential Champions League showpiece in Budapest in mind, or whether it was just down to his anger over his men losing ground in the title race to Arsenal with Tuesday’s draw at home to Nottingham Forest, City rang the changes.
It was ten in total by Guardiola, who named Matheus Nunes as the only survivor from Forest. Erling Haaland was even given the entire night off to ensure he is fully flying for Wednesday’s trip to Real Madrid.
And both he and the entire City squad will have an extra spring in their step as they kept hopes alive of a quadruple with a vintage display in the cauldron of Tyneside.
It all started so well for the hosts. , threaded his second defence-splitting pass of the game. William Osula failed to capitalise on the first, but Barnes made no mistake.
The winger beat the offside trap to race clear down the left, steadied himself, and powerfully curled round the outstretched James Trafford into the opposite corner.
The goalscorer, now on 13 for the campaign, attempted to return the favour. He teed up Tonali to pull the trigger from 25 yards but his effort had the travelling fans up in the Leazes End ducking for cover.
This was the rock and roll football the Toon Army had been craving for months. And even Nick Woltemade was striking the drums. The giant German has been a hot topic over recent weeks with Howe deploying the club record £69m striker in midfield.
Harvey Barnes fired Newcastle ahead in the tieCredit: Reuters
The winger struck with just 18 minutes on the clockCredit: Getty
Having come in for some serious flak following last weekend’s performance in the 3-2 home defeat to Everton, he was given some respite when illness ruled him out of the United victory.
But he looked set for a long night here when he had his pocket picked inside three minutes.
City pounced instantly, Tijjani Reijnders getting between Lewis Hall and Malick Thiaw, but the Dutchman could only fire into the side-netting.
Woltemade then nearly made amends by heading home an opener. Osula met a corner with his head, Trafford waved at it like a drunk attempting to scoop a wasp away from a pint in a beer garden, knocking it up perfectly for the 6ft 6in ace to head over him.
Savinho equalised for City six minutes before half timeCredit: Getty
The Brazilian didn’t even kick the ball as it flew into the netCredit: AP
Agonisingly, Nico Gonzalez was in the right place to clear a yard out.
While he struggled to get a grip once more, Toon did find their rhythm to eventually get the breakthrough, but City proved they too pack a beat.
Savinho was the main man. And the tide started to turn when the Brazilian livewire was on a misplaced Anthony Elanga pass like a shot, driving past Hall and forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a stop at his near-post.
The Toon stopper impressed on Wednesday after coming in for Nick Pope, with Newcastle’s long-term No1 once more consigned to watching from the bench after his errors against Everton.
With England manager Thomas Tuchel in attendance, the Arsenal loanee was well aware it was time to shine under the lights up against a main rival for that third-choice keeper spot at the World Cup.
Marmoush bagged his first goal of the game moments into the second halfCredit: Reuters
He scored a replica finish in the 65th minute to put City two goals upCredit: Getty
But Ramsdale will be kicking himself looking back at the equaliser. Jeremy Doku skipped past two to whizz a low cross across the six yard line.
Ramsdale looked to be caught in two minds whether to go for it, it went past him, Hall and Nunes and hit Savinho before bouncing over the line.
Suddenly, Newcastle were on the ropes. It should have been two for City as Savinho spotted Reijnders’ run on the inside, his touch took him through, but he dragged it wide of the target.
It was a let-off for Howe and the Mags, who were desperately in need of the break for a regroup.
But the 15 minutes of respite failed to have any impact as City ramped up the volume from the off to waltz into the last-eight.
It only took 100 seconds of the second half for Marmoush to tap the visitors ahead after Nunes’ pull back from the right byline.
There is no stopping City when they are at their brilliant best. And Marmoush wrapped it up when Reijnders rolled him it 20 yards, taking a touch before unleashing a superb 20-yard shot past Ramsdale to send the away fans wild.
It was a bleak night for Eddie Howe and Toon fansCredit: Getty
Marmoush now has seven goals in just four outings against NewcastleCredit: Reuters
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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