Match ends, Southampton 0, Newcastle United 1.
Newcastle United hold a slender advantage from the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg as Joelinton's goal gave them victory at Southampton.
The Brazilian made amends for missing an earlier easy opportunity when he arrived on the end of substitute Alexander Isak's perfect low cross to make the decisive contribution with 17 minutes left.
Newcastle will now be favourites to reach their first major Wembley final since the FA Cup in 1999 as they attempt to end a trophy drought stretching back to the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win.
And if Newcastle do complete the job in the second leg on Tyneside they will owe a debt of gratitude to Nick Pope, who made two vital second-half saves from Southampton substitute Che Adams with the score still goalless, extending his remarkable personal record to 10 successive clean sheets.
Southampton, who had what they thought was an equaliser from Adam Armstrong disallowed for handball by VAR, saw their night of frustration complete when defender Duje Caleta-Car was sent off in the closing minutes for a second yellow card.
Joelinton was a central figure, seeing a first-half goal contentiously ruled out for handball then blazing over an open goal when it seemed easier to score, before hitting the target to make Eddie Howe's side firm favourites to reach Wembley.
The two sides meet at St James' Park in the second leg on Tuesday, 31 January.
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Newcastle's march continues
Newcastle United's dream season under Howe now carries the real prospect of a Wembley appearance to go alongside their challenge for a place in the Premier League's top four and next season's Champions League.
They needed the outstanding interventions of keeper Pope to keep Southampton at bay when they threatened after the break but Newcastle always carried a threat, even if much of their finishing was wayward, and eventually sharp work by substitute Isak delivered a chance Joelinton could not miss.
Newcastle's defence is so mean-spirited this season that one goal is invariably enough and so it proved as, for all Southampton's effort, they simply could not break through, leaving the Toon Army packed into a corner of St Mary's celebrating at the final whistle.
Howe will know Newcastle were not at their best and showed nerves at times, but there will be satisfaction at getting this part of the job done against a Southampton side that disposed of favourites Manchester City here in the quarter-final.
It leaves Howe's side in a favourable position for the second leg in front an expected capacity crowd at St James' Park, with a Wembley final against either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest as the prize on offer.
"Both sides had their moments and had chances to win the game, but we know it's only half-time and there's a long way to go," said Howe. "It's been a good day but there's still a long way to go in the tie.
"I can't be critical in any way. We defended well, Nick made some big saves again. He's been outstanding for us this year, the defence has played very well in front of him but when called upon he's delivered for us.
"I'm pleased to win; that was our aim but we know 1-0 is delicate. Nothing is decided."
Southampton frustrated
The hosts were left cursing both Newcastle's outstanding keeper Pope and VAR as they face an uphill task to overturn this slender deficit in their bid to reach Wembley.
Saints manager Nathan Jones was locked in deep discussion with referee Stuart Attwell as they left the field, discussing the VAR decision that ruled it was a handball by Adam Armstrong as he bundled home what he thought was the leveller just after Joelinton's goal.
Jones, however, will also know the key chance fell to Adams when he raced clear with the game in the balance only to be thwarted by the outstretched leg of Pope, who produced another fine save from the striker's close-range shot on the turn moments later.
"I am really proud of the level of performance," said Jones. "These are a top side, big physical and athletic. They have had time to recruit and recruited that way and they are a real tough side to play against.
"I thought we were excellent. They had a couple of big chances and we had a couple of big chances. For us to compete and be like we were, it shows we have come a long way and in the second half we went after the game. We really stepped it up.
"We just lacked a little bit of quality in terms of wide areas. Once we get that confidence and get one or two in, we will be a different threat. I am really proud of them."
Southampton battled throughout but Newcastle's defence is so tight that you simply have to take chances when they present themselves. They could not do it and will now travel to Tyneside as underdogs in the battle for a place in the final.
Player of the match
PopeNick Pope
Southampton
Avg
- Squad number8Player nameWard-ProwseAverage rating
6.14
- Squad number2Player nameWalker-PetersAverage rating
5.99
- Squad number31Player nameBazunuAverage rating
5.96
- Squad number9Player nameA ArmstrongAverage rating
5.76
- Squad number22Player nameSalisuAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number26Player nameAlcarazAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number18Player nameMaraAverage rating
5.48
- Squad number27Player nameDialloAverage rating
5.38
- Squad number10Player nameAdamsAverage rating
5.35
- Squad number23Player nameEdozieAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number4Player nameLyancoAverage rating
5.16
- Squad number11Player nameOrsicAverage rating
5.08
- Squad number19Player nameDjenepoAverage rating
5.05
- Squad number45Player nameLaviaAverage rating
4.87
- Squad number6Player nameCaleta-CarAverage rating
4.72
- Squad number35Player nameBednarekAverage rating
4.65
Newcastle United
Avg
- Squad number22Player namePopeAverage rating
8.61
- Squad number14Player nameIsakAverage rating
8.22
- Squad number7Player nameJoelintonAverage rating
7.84
- Squad number2Player nameTrippierAverage rating
7.78
- Squad number39Player nameBruno GuimarãesAverage rating
7.72
- Squad number10Player nameSaint-MaximinAverage rating
7.68
- Squad number4Player nameBotmanAverage rating
7.59
- Squad number5Player nameSchärAverage rating
7.59
- Squad number24Player nameAlmirónAverage rating
7.56
- Squad number33Player nameBurnAverage rating
7.36
- Squad number23Player nameMurphyAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number36Player nameS LongstaffAverage rating
6.75
- Squad number28Player nameWillockAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number9Player nameWilsonAverage rating
6.63
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Bazunu
- 2Walker-PetersBooked at 44minsSubstituted forBednarekat 88'minutes
- 4LyancoBooked at 84mins
- 6Caleta-CarBooked at 86mins
- 22SalisuBooked at 90mins
- 26AlcarazBooked at 37mins
- 27DialloSubstituted forLaviaat 82'minutes
- 19DjenepoSubstituted forA Armstrongat 45+4'minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 11OrsicSubstituted forEdozieat 57'minutes
- 18MaraSubstituted forAdamsat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Maitland-Niles
- 9A Armstrong
- 10Adams
- 13Caballero
- 15Perraud
- 23Edozie
- 24Elyounoussi
- 35Bednarek
- 45Lavia
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2TrippierBooked at 70mins
- 5Schär
- 4Botman
- 33Burn
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Bruno GuimarãesBooked at 86mins
- 28WillockSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 68'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 24AlmirónSubstituted forMurphyat 78'minutes
- 9WilsonSubstituted forIsakat 68'minutes
- 7Joelinton
Substitutes
- 6Lascelles
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 11Ritchie
- 12Lewis
- 14Isak
- 19Manquillo
- 23Murphy
- 26Darlow
- 32Anderson
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 30,090
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Newcastle United 1.
Booking
Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Mohammed Salisu (Southampton).
Post update
Attempt missed. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked. Assisted by Nick Pope.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno Guimarães.
Post update
Sven Botman (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Che Adams (Southampton).
Post update
Attempt missed. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Jan Bednarek replaces Kyle Walker-Peters.
Booking
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Duje Caleta-Car (Southampton) for a bad foul.
Post update
Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Duje Caleta-Car (Southampton).
Booking
Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Lyanco (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Lyanco (Southampton).
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Comments
Join the conversation
Will this be Newcastle's first major trophy in 67 years?!
They've got a very good chance with their defense and Nick Pope in goal.They don't give much away..
Well played Newcastle.
Toon fan
Desperate for Wilson and Isak to get in the positions that Longstaff and Joelinton find themselves in every game and we would no doubt get 2+ goals per game.
Hopefully play better at SJP and kill the game off early.
Up the mags!
Good win though
Good luck to NEWCASTLE … looking good for a long overdue Wembley appearance