Pep Guardiola expecting 'call' from official after controversial VAR decision in Manchester City's Carabao Cup semi-final win over Newcastle

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Manchester City have one foot in another Carabao Cup final after their 2-0 win over Newcastle in the semi-final first leg at St James' Park. But their lead might have been more comfortable had an Antoine Semenyo goal not been controversially ruled out following a prolonged VAR check. City head coach Pep Guardiola made clear his disapproval in his post-match interview.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola voiced his discontent towards VAR after Antoine Semenyo had a goal controversially ruled out against Newcastle in their Carabao Cup semi-final.

The new signing gave his side the lead early in the second half and thought he had doubled it 10 minutes later, only for Erling Haaland to be ruled offside following a VAR check that lasted five-and-a-half minutes.

At full-time, a frustrated Guardiola questioned why VAR intervened for what appeared to be a marginal offside decision, referencing two potential penalties his side might have been awarded at St James' Park in November's 2-1 Premier League defeat.

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"Four officials and VAR are not able to make a decision, they go to the referee first," he told Sky Sports.

"I understand why here in the Premier League, with [Fabian] Schar and the penalty, the VAR didn't say anything. I understand why in the Premier League game here, the penalty for Jeremy Doku from [Malick] Thiaw... Take a look, take a look.

"The second goal [tonight] the line was really perfect, millimetres. That I don't understand but I'm pretty sure the official is going to call me tomorrow and explain why VAR didn't intervene in those two penalties here at 0-0 [in November].

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"And I tell you today, look in my press conference and I didn't say anything after that Newcastle game. But today VAR intervened. I was waiting in that moment, two unbelievable penalties and it didn't happen.

"But that's okay. We know how it works and that will make us stronger.

"It's in that situation how we react. It's the semi-finals. We play for a lot to reach the finals. It will make us stronger."

Despite his frustration, Guardiola's side go into the second leg as the clear favourites having secured a 2-0 victory in Newcastle.

Asked about the impact of Semenyo, who already has two goals in his first two City appearances since joining from Bournemouth last Friday, Guardiola added: "We know Bournemouth did an incredible job with him and every time the ball arrives to him he always is there."

Rayan Cherki's goal at the death made the lead more comfortable and proved a damaging blow for the hosts and Carabao Cup holders.

"It's a body blow [conceding last minute] but not fatal at the moment," Newcastle's Eddie Howe said. "We're still in there fighting.

"I think maybe a bit of naivety with a minute to go on the clock, that we're still trying to chase a goal. In that moment, we needed to defend after we got our structure wrong from that position and we got punished.

"I think the lads gave everything today under difficult circumstances after the extra time on Saturday [in the FA Cup third-round win against Bournemouth], and there was a bit of fatigue in our performance, but I can't fault the players."

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