Newcastle reaches 1st cup final under Saudi ownership
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
Newcastle is a club reborn after its Saudi-backed takeover and is headed to a first cup final this century in a season that could also end in Champions League qualification. Newcastle beat Southampton 2-1 despite a late red card for star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory in the English League Cup semifinals. Newcastle is likely to be facing Manchester United in the Feb. 26 final. Man United leads 3-0 from last week’s first leg at Nottingham Forest. Sean Longstaff scored both of Newcastle’s goals. It will be Newcastle’s first League Cup final since 1976 and a first trip to Wembley since the FA Cup final against Man United in 1999.