Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City Player Ratings: City Cruise to Semi-Final Advantage with Semenyo & Cherki Goals

Manchester City took a crucial step towards the Carabao Cup final with a convincing 2–0 win over Newcastle United in the first leg of the semi-final at St. James’ Park. It wasn’t a game built on flair or constant attacking exchanges, but rather a measured, tactical contest, where fine margins and moments of quality proved decisive. Pep Guardiola's side executed their game plan to near perfection on a demanding away night.

The deadlock was broken shortly after the restart. Bernardo Silva, who was influential throughout, produced a moment of brilliance with a perfectly timed pass to Antoine Semenyo, who finished clinically from close range in the 53rd minute. City thought they had doubled their advantage moments later through Semenyo again, only for VAR to intervene and keep Newcastle in the tie.

The Magpies pushed back with intent, spurred on by a vocal home crowd. Their best opening fell to Bruno Guimarães, whose powerful effort crashed against the post in what could have been a turning point. Newcastle showed fight and urgency but struggled to break down City’s disciplined defensive structure.

Any lingering doubt was removed in stoppage time when Rayan Cherki added a second, giving City a commanding lead heading into the second leg. It was a composed, professional performance that will somehow be a breather for one of the best managers in recent times, Pep Guardiola, who was under some pressure after his team's form in recent times. Here’s a closer look at the Newcastle United vs Manchester City Player Ratings from this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

Key Takeaways

• Manchester City gained a decisive first-leg advantage, showing control and composure away from home in a tight semi-final.

• Bernardo Silva was the difference, providing creativity and leadership that unlocked Newcastle’s defence.

• Newcastle competed but lacked a cutting edge, with Guimarães hitting the post in their best chance.

Manchester City Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Let's delve deep into the Manchester City Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

James Trafford - 7.0: A solid and composed performance from the keeper. He made a crucial save from Guimarães in the second half. His distribution was decent, especially his long balls, which started a few attacks. We noticed his confidence in claiming high balls, punching clear three times. He wasn't overly tested but did everything required of him with minimal fuss. A clean sheet in a semi-final is always a job well done.

Defenders

Nathan Aké - 6.5: A standard, no-nonsense performance from Aké. He was positionally sound and didn't take any unnecessary risks. He made a couple of important clearances and blocked one shot. What stood out to us was his calmness on the ball, though he did lose possession a few times. He was solid enough, but didn't offer a great deal going forward from that side.

Abdukodir Khusanov - 7.5: An impressive display from the young defender. He looked incredibly comfortable, with a 93% pass accuracy. He made a crucial last-man tackle and won most of his duels. His reading of the game was excellent, intercepting plays and launching attacks with his forward passes. From our perspective, he was one of the standout defenders on the pitch. A very mature performance.

Max Alleyne - 7.0: Partnered Khusanov well at the back. He was a passing machine, completing 54 passes and always looking to build from the back. He put his body on the line, blocking two shots. While not tested in many duels, his positioning was smart, and he made an important interception. A very tidy and reliable performance contributing to the clean sheet.

Matheus Nunes - 6.0: A mixed bag for Nunes before he was substituted. He was energetic and made a couple of good tackles, but also looked a bit rash at times, earning a yellow card. He lost possession on eight occasions which is a little high. We noticed he struggled to impose himself on the game consistently. An okay performance, but not his best.

Midfielders

Bernardo Silva - 8.0: The clear man of the match for us. He was the architect of City's victory with a beautiful assist for the only goal. His work rate was immense, recovering the ball eight times. He drove the team forward and was always looking for that killer pass. His captain's performance was a joy to watch, combining creativity with tenacity. He fully deserved his high rating.

Nico O'Reilly - 6.5: A combative display in midfield. He was tidy in possession with 91% pass accuracy but picked up a yellow card. He put himself about, winning 50% of his duels, but was also dribbled past once. He kept things ticking over in the middle but didn't have a major creative impact on the game before being subbed off. A decent shift.

Phil Foden - 6.5: A quieter game by his high standards. He showed flashes of his quality and tried to make things happen but was often crowded out. He had two shots off target and lost the ball a few times. He worked hard and drew a couple of fouls, but that final product was just missing tonight. Substituted after an hour.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 6.0: It was a frustrating evening for the big striker. He was well-marshalled by Newcastle's defence and had only 16 touches. He did create three chances for his teammates which shows his developing link-up play. But he didn't register a single shot. A very unusual game for him, he was physically present but not the goal threat we expect.

Jérémy Doku - 7.0: A constant threat down the wing. His direct running caused problems, and he completed three dribbles. He delivered some dangerous crosses into the box and was a real livewire. However, he did lose possession 15 times, which shows the high-risk nature of his game. An exciting player to watch who provided a key outlet for City.

Antoine Semenyo - 7.5: The match-winner. He was in the right place at the right time to score the decisive goal with a clinical finish. He was a bundle of energy all game, showing great movement. He even had a second goal correctly ruled out by VAR. His goal was the difference in a tight affair, a huge contribution.

Substitutes

Substitutes: Rico Lewis and Tijjani Reijnders came on to add fresh legs and control to the midfield, helping City see out the win. Rayan Cherki also came on and had a shot saved, looking lively in his brief cameo. They all played their part in securing the result.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 7.5: He set his team up to be solid and control the game, even with some younger players. His tactics worked perfectly, nullifying Newcastle's threat and finding that one crucial goal. His substitutions were smart and helped manage the final stages of the match effectively. A professional away win masterminded by the boss.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Get more insights on the Newcastle United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - 6.0: He couldn't do much about the goal; it was a close-range finish. He made two saves during the match to keep his team in it. His distribution was a bit shaky, with only 50% pass accuracy. From our perspective, it was an average performance. Not at fault for the loss, but didn't produce any heroics either.

Defenders

Lewis Hall - 7.5: A fantastic performance from the left-back. He was a bulldog in the challenge, winning an incredible 10 duels. He was a constant outlet going forward, creating two chances for his teammates. What stood out to us was his relentless energy up and down the flank. He was one of Newcastle's best players on the night.

Sven Botman - 6.5: A solid defensive outing. He made a massive eight clearances and was a commanding presence in his own box. He marshalled Haaland well for large parts of the game. However, he will be disappointed to have missed a big chance from a set-piece. A decent defensive showing overall.

Malick Thiaw - 6.5: Much like his defensive partner, he was solid. He made five clearances and was tidy in possession. He wasn't really tested in one-on-one duels but his positioning was generally good. He did his job without much fuss, but the defence was ultimately breached. A steady if unspectacular evening's work.

Lewis Miley - 6.0: A difficult night for the young defender. He was neat on the ball but struggled defensively at times, being dribbled past once. He made four clearances but didn't win many of his duels. It was a tough learning experience against a top side. He never stopped trying, but found it hard going.

Midfielders

Joelinton - 6.0: He battled hard in midfield as he always does, but lacked quality on the night. He won a few aerial duels but was largely ineffective in an attacking sense. He picked up a yellow card and gave away a couple of fouls. A performance full of effort but short on end product.

Bruno Guimarães - 7.0: The heartbeat of the Newcastle team. He was so unlucky to see his brilliant strike hit the post. He tried to drive his team forward but was often frustrated, picking up a booking. He lost possession a few too many times, but was always at the centre of Newcastle's best moments. A good performance that was inches away from being great.

Jacob Ramsey - 6.0: He worked hard and was tidy in possession but had little impact on the game in an attacking sense. He won a few duels and drew a couple of fouls but was very quiet. From our perspective, the game seemed to pass him by a little. Substituted after a quiet 69 minutes.

Forwards

Yoane Wissa - 5.5: A really tough night for the forward. He was guilty of missing two big chances that could have changed the game. He was caught offside twice and just never really got into the flow of the match. What a frustrating performance for him and the fans. A night he will want to forget.

Anthony Gordon - 7.0: Newcastle's most creative player. He created four chances, including two big chances for his teammates. His delivery was excellent. He worked hard defensively too. If his teammates had been more clinical, he would have had at least one assist. A very bright spark in a losing effort.

Jacob Murphy - 6.0: He had a lively start to the match and created one big chance. Unfortunately, his evening was cut short by an injury just before halftime. It was a shame as he looked like he could cause City some problems. Hard to give a full rating based on just 47 minutes of action.

Substitutes

Substitutes: Harvey Barnes came on for the injured Murphy and looked energetic. Sandro Tonali and Anthony Elanga were introduced to change the game but couldn't find the breakthrough. They provided effort but lacked the final piece of quality needed to grab an equalizer.

Manager

E. Howe - 6.5: His team was well-organized and made it very difficult for City. They were defensively solid for the most part and unlucky to hit the post. However, his team lacked a cutting edge in the final third. His substitutions didn't have the desired impact to change the result. A well-drilled performance but ultimately not enough.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match goes to Bernardo Silva.

Worst Performer

Yoane Wissa was the worst performer in the Newcastle United Vs Manchester City clash.