Newcastle United progressed to the FA Cup fifth round with a commanding 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa at Villa Park.
It means the Magpies are only the fourth side to defeat Unai Emery’s team on home soil this campaign.
The fourth round encounter, the first FA Cup meeting between these clubs in 35 years, proved a thoroughly deserved victory for the visitors despite trailing at the interval.
Sandro Tonali delivered a masterful display, netting twice to swing the contest decisively in Newcastle’s favour after a chaotic first half that saw the match transformed by a moment of goalkeeping madness from Marco Bizot.
The Dutch goalkeeper’s dismissal came in dramatic fashion just before the break, with Bizot racing approximately 40 metres from his goal to bring down Jacob Murphy as Newcastle broke with three players advancing.
Villa had been leading through Tammy Abraham’s opener, though replays confirmed the striker was clearly offside when latching onto Douglas Luiz’s clever chipped free kick.
The absence of VAR at this stage of the competition meant the goal stood despite appearing offside to the naked eye.
Alan Shearer, speaking on BBC Sport, noted that officials had grown accustomed to relying on technology.
Newcastle United progressed to the FA Cup fifth round with a commanding 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa at Villa Park
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He said: “For five or six months, they have been relying on VAR and they come into this situation and it all changes.”
The Italian midfielder’s equaliser arrived in the 62nd minute, his initial effort deflecting in off Douglas Luiz after a scrappy clearance fell to him on the edge of the area.
Newcastle felt aggrieved moments earlier when Lucas Digne clearly handled a cross inside his own penalty area, yet the referee inexplicably awarded a free kick rather than a spot kick.
Tonali’s second was a thing of beauty.
The Magpies are only the fourth side to defeat Unai Emery’s team on home soil this campaign
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Dan Burn laid the ball off to him 25 yards from goal, and under pressure the midfielder struck it perfectly into the bottom left corner, leaving Emiliano Martinez with no chance whatsoever.
The goal had been coming with Villa pinned back in their own half.
Woltemade completed the scoring in the 87th minute.
He capitalised on a dreadful pass from Thiaw that Joe Willock intercepted inside the Villa penalty area.
The Dutch goalkeeper’s dismissal came in dramatic fashion just before the break
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The German forward pounced on the loose ball, with Pau Torres’s attempted tackle ricocheting off him and into the net for his first goal in 14 matches.
The strike came on Woltemade’s birthday, adding a personal touch to Newcastle’s comprehensive victory.
As the final whistle approached, the home supporters streamed towards the exits while jubilant Newcastle fans removed their shirts in celebration, their team having overcome both their opponents and a series of questionable officiating decisions.