Carabao Cup Final 2023 – Man United 2-0 Newcastle Report

Manchester United defeated Newcastle United 2‑0 at Wembley Stadium on 26 February 2023 to win the Carabao Cup. Goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford in the first half secured the club’s sixth League Cup title and ended a six‑year wait for a major trophy. The result also gave manager Erik ten Hag his first piece of silverware since taking charge.

The match was the culmination of the 2022‑23 EFL Cup season, with both teams having navigated knockout rounds to reach the final. Newcastle United were appearing in their first major final since the 1999 FA Cup final, while Manchester United were seeking to end a drought that stretched back to 2017.

Who won the Carabao Cup final 2023?

Manchester United won the 2023 Carabao Cup final, beating Newcastle United by a scoreline of 2‑0. The goals came from Casemiro in the 33rd minute and Marcus Rashford in the 39th minute. The match was played in front of an official attendance of 87,306 at Wembley Stadium, with David Coote serving as referee.

• Manchester United ended a six‑year trophy drought – their last major honour was the 2017 Europa League.
• Erik ten Hag won his first trophy as Manchester United manager.
• Casemiro scored the opener with a header from a Luke Shaw free‑kick (set piece).
• Marcus Rashford doubled the lead with a shot that deflected off Newcastle defender Sven Botman.
• Newcastle United failed to register a shot on target in the first half.
• This was Newcastle’s first League Cup final appearance since 1976.
• The 2‑0 scoreline repeated the result of the 1999 FA Cup final between the same two sides.

When and where was the Carabao Cup final 2023?

The match took place on Sunday, 26 February 2023 at Wembley Stadium in London. This is the traditional venue for the EFL Cup final, with the 2023 edition being the 64th final of the competition. Wembley has hosted every League Cup final since 2001, with the exception of the 2011–12 season when the final was played at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium due to the London 2012 Olympic preparations.

Kick‑off was at 16:30 GMT. The attendance of 87,306 was one of the largest crowds at Wembley for a domestic cup final that season. The match also saw the introduction of safe‑standing areas for supporters, a first for a major English men’s domestic final.

What was the lineup for the Carabao Cup final 2023?

Manchester United started in a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation: David de Gea in goal; Diogo Dalot, Raphaël Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw in defence; Casemiro and Fred in midfield; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford in attack; and Wout Weghorst leading the line. Manager Erik ten Hag made no changes from the side that had won the previous Premier League match.

Newcastle United lined up in a 4‑3‑3: Loris Karius in goal; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schär, Sven Botman, Dan Burn in defence; Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimarães, Joe Willock in midfield; Miguel Almirón, Callum Wilson, and Allan Saint‑Maximin up front. Manager Eddie Howe had to rely on reserve goalkeeper Karius because first‑choice Nick Pope was suspended.

Why was this win significant for Manchester United?

The victory ended a six‑year trophy drought for Manchester United, their longest since the early 1990s. The club’s last major honour had been the 2016‑17 Europa League under José Mourinho. Since then, United had lost two FA Cup finals and reached the Europa League final in 2021 but been runners‑up each time.

For manager Erik ten Hag, the Carabao Cup was his first trophy since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022. The win validated the rebuilding process he had begun, with new signings such as Casemiro and Lisandro Martínez playing pivotal roles. Ten Hag later described the victory as “a great credit to the players, the staff, everyone at the club.”

The Carabao Cup win also secured a spot in the 2023‑24 UEFA Europa Conference League playoff round, though Manchester United later qualified for the Champions League via league position. The trophy lifted morale and set a tone for the remainder of the season, in which United also won the FA Cup.

What were the key moments in the Carabao Cup final 2023?

The match turned in a six‑minute spell late in the first half when Manchester United scored twice. Casemiro opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, rising to meet a Luke Shaw free‑kick and heading the ball past Loris Karius. The Brazilian midfielder timed his run perfectly to guide the ball inside the far post.

Barely six minutes later, Marcus Rashford doubled the lead. He collected the ball on the left, cut inside, and shot from the edge of the penalty area. The strike took a deflection off Newcastle defender Sven Botman, wrong‑footing Karius and crossing the line. The goal was initially recorded as an own goal by Botman, but later officially credited to Rashford.

Newcastle United struggled to create clear‑cut chances throughout the match. Their best opportunity came in the second half when Allan Saint‑Maximin forced a save from David de Gea, but they never seriously threatened a comeback. Manchester United controlled possession and saw the game out comfortably.

1. 0′ – Kick‑off at Wembley.
2. 33′ – Goal: Casemiro scores from a Luke Shaw free‑kick. Manchester United 1‑0 Newcastle.
3. 39′ – Goal: Marcus Rashford’s shot deflects off Sven Botman. Manchester United 2‑0 Newcastle.
4. 45+2′ – Half‑time: Manchester United 2‑0 Newcastle.
5. 90′ – Full‑time: Manchester United 2‑0 Newcastle. Trophy presentation.

What facts are certain about the Carabao Cup final 2023?

What is the Carabao Cup?

The Carabao Cup is the current sponsorship name for the English Football League Cup, commonly referred to as the EFL Cup. It is a knockout competition open to all 92 clubs in the Premier League and the English Football League (Championship, League One, and League Two). The tournament has been held annually since 1960‑61, making it the second‑oldest domestic cup competition in English football after the FA Cup.

The competition was originally known as the Football League Cup and has undergone several sponsorship name changes, including the Milk Cup, Littlewoods Challenge Cup, Rumbleows Cup, Coca‑Cola Cup, Worthington Cup, and Carabao Cup (since 2017‑18). The winner receives the EFL Cup trophy and qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff round, though qualification can be transferred to the next highest league position if the winner has already qualified for European competition.

Manchester United have historically performed well in the competition, winning it six times as of 2023. Their previous victories came in 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017, and 2023. Newcastle United have reached the final four times but have never won the League Cup.

What did players and managers say after the final?

Marcus Rashford, who scored the second goal, told Sky Sports: “We are back. It’s a great feeling. We have a great spirit in the team and we have to keep going.” Erik ten Hag, speaking to the EFL’s official channels, said: “It’s a great credit to the players, the staff, everyone at the club. We are on the right track.” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe admitted his side were “devastated” and added: “We didn’t turn up in the first half and gave ourselves too much to do.”

“We are back. It’s a great feeling. We have a great spirit in the team and we have to keep going.”

— Marcus Rashford (post‑match interview via Sky Sports)

“It’s a great credit to the players, the staff, everyone at the club. We are on the right track.”

— Erik ten Hag (post‑match interview via EFL.com)

“We are devastated. We didn’t turn up in the first half and gave ourselves too much to do.”

— Eddie Howe (Newcastle manager via Sky Sports)

What did the Carabao Cup final 2023 mean for both clubs?

For Manchester United, the Carabao Cup win ended a six‑year trophy drought and provided the first visible reward of the Erik ten Hag era. It also gave the squad confidence that carried them through the rest of the 2022‑23 season, where they finished third in the Premier League and won the FA Cup. For Newcastle United, the defeat was a painful end to a remarkable season that ultimately saw them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in two decades after finishing fourth in the Premier League. The final experience, though disappointing, helped build the foundation for Eddie Howe’s ongoing project.

For more on the broader context, you can read about manchester-united-history-trophies and carabao-cup-overview.

Frequently asked questions about the Carabao Cup final 2023