August 29, (THEWILL) – Newcastle United advanced to the third round of the EFL Cup after defeating Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the City Ground. The match, which took place in Nottingham, saw both teams locked in a tight contest that could only be decided by a shootout.
The game began with Joe Willock scoring one of the earliest goals in the competition’s history, giving Newcastle an ideal start. Eddie Howe’s decision to include Sandro Tonali in the starting lineup, following the player’s return from a lengthy ban, seemed to pay off initially. However, Nottingham Forest fought back in the second half, with Jota Silva equalising with a powerful shot.
As the match progressed, Newcastle appeared more likely to score. Dan Burn came close from a corner, while Harvey Barnes narrowly missed with a strong effort that hit the side netting. Despite these chances, the game remained tied at full-time, necessitating a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
The shootout provided additional drama. Forest’s goalkeeper, Carlos Miguel, making his debut, saved Joelinton’s penalty to give the home side an early advantage. However, Ibrahim Sangare’s miss, hitting the crossbar, brought Newcastle back into contention. The decisive moment came when Taiwo Awoniyi sent his penalty over the bar, allowing Sean Longstaff to score the winning spot-kick for Newcastle.
This victory marks an important step for Newcastle United in the EFL Cup, especially their ability to perform under pressure. For Forest, despite the disappointment of the loss, their performance showed promise and resilience against a strong top-division side.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
