Newcastle 2 Fulham 1, Miley heads holders into the last four

Lewis Miley found half a yard at the near post, then guided a corner into the far side netting in the second minute of added time, and Newcastle beat Fulham 2,1 to reach the EFL Cup semifinals. Yoane Wissa had opened the scoring early, Sasa Lukic equalised soon after, and a tie that seemed bound for penalties turned on a single set piece, which keeps the holders on course to defend their trophy.

How the game was won

Newcastle set the tone with aggressive pressing and quick switches of play, which produced an early breakthrough when Wissa, on his first full start since arriving on Tyneside, finished calmly inside ten minutes. Fulham did not fold, they used width and timed midfield runs, and Lukic’s header levelled the tie before the half hour. The second half became tighter, spaces shrank, clear chances thinned, and both managers leaned on their benches to tilt momentum.

The decisive moment arrived from a corner, taken with pace to the near post. Miley, 19 years old, attacked the flight, glanced it across the face, and St James’ Park erupted. It was a composed header, and it crowned a display of resilience from a side managing injuries, which had forced reshuffles across the back line.

Fulham’s performance, promise with regrets

Marco Silva’s team played with conviction, they kept lines compact, and they worked the ball wide to probe Kieran Trippier’s flank. They created enough pressure to think about an upset, and when the clock ticked toward full time, their organisation suggested extra time could suit them. What will frustrate Fulham is the lack of a clean final action, because promising moves did not always become clear shots, and one lapse at a dead ball proved costly.

Key performers

• Lewis Miley, 19, showed calm in a frantic finish, his movement at the set piece was smart and decisive.
• Yoane Wissa offered speed and direct running from the left, his early goal settled home nerves.
• Sasa Lukic timed his surge to equalise, he gave Fulham thrust from midfield.

By the numbers

• 2,1 the final score at St James’ Park, with goals on 10, 16 and 90+2 minutes.
• 60.3% of pre match simulations favoured a Newcastle win in Opta’s model, which reflected their strong home form.
• Newcastle have now reached the League Cup semifinals in three of the past four seasons, a sign of consistency in knockout football.

What it means

Newcastle will play Manchester City over two legs in January, the first leg scheduled in the week commencing 12 January 2026, with the return in early February. The final is set for late March at Wembley, which keeps a clear prize in view for a squad that has leaned on depth and youth during a demanding winter. For Fulham, the exit concentrates minds on league objectives, and the level of their display, organised and ambitious, offers a platform for the next run of fixtures.

Tactical snapshot

Newcastle

Eddie Howe set his side up to draw Fulham onto them, then break quickly into the half spaces. Trippier’s service, both from open play and from corners, remained a primary route, and the late winner again came from a well worked routine. The midfield used Bruno Guimarães as a pivot, with runners beyond the ball to pin Fulham’s back line.

Fulham

Silva’s plan prioritised compactness between the lines, with full backs joining in rotation rather than bombing on together. Lukic and Andreas Pereira tried to arrive late at the edge of the box, and the wide players looked to isolate their markers. The balance worked for long spells, yet one defensive detail at a corner decided the contest.

Recent meetings, the arc of a close match up

The cup tie continues a run of fine margins between these clubs, with late goals and single scorelines a theme.

The wider picture

• Newcastle’s knack for finding late goals has carried them through a patch of injuries, and the emergence of academy talent has become a feature of their season.
• Fulham’s structure is sound, they are competitive against top eight opposition, and if they turn territory into higher quality chances, results should follow.

What comes next

• Newcastle, semifinal first leg at home against Manchester City in mid January, return leg in early February, then attention splits across league and a possible Wembley date in March.
• Fulham, back to league play, where the performance level at St James’ Park should give confidence, if they sharpen the final pass and protect set pieces.

One set piece, one clean contact, and a tight cup tie swung in the space of a heartbeat.