March 02, (THEWILL) – Danny Welbeck propelled Brighton and Hove Albion into the FA Cup quarter-finals with an extra-time strike that sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory against Newcastle in a tension-filled match marred by red cards for both sides.
The fifth-round tie at St James’ Park began with Alexander Isak converting a penalty to give Newcastle an early advantage.
Former Newcastle player Yankuba Minteh levelled the score before half-time, setting the stage for an eventful second period.
The match took a significant turn when Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon received a red card in the 83rd minute for pushing Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke in the head, while Brighton later saw Tariq Lamptey dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton team prevailed thanks to Welbeck’s decisive goal in the final minutes of extra time.
The Seagulls, who have never won the FA Cup and last reached the final in 1983 when they lost to Manchester United in a replay, have now won five consecutive matches following their heavy defeat at Nottingham Forest.
This victory marks their second quarter-final appearance in three seasons and their second win at St James’ Park this season.
For Newcastle, the defeat is another painful setback in their trophy pursuit, having not won a domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup, with their last major honour being the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Additionally, unless Newcastle appeal Gordon’s three-match suspension, they will be without one of their key players for the upcoming League Cup final against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley on 16 March.
The match featured several notable moments, including Minteh’s equaliser against his former club following a £30 million transfer last year, and a disallowed goal for Newcastle’s Fabian Schar in stoppage time due to an offside position confirmed by VAR.
Brighton finished strongly in extra time, with Welbeck ultimately deciding the contest in the 114th minute by racing onto Solly March’s through ball and deftly lifting his shot over Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
