AliousIn a heart-wrenching defeat, Newcastle United, affectionately known as the Magpies, let a lead slip away, allowing Brighton to stage a comeback and secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Adding salt to the wound, Yankuba Minteh, a former Newcastle winger who was reluctantly sold last season, scored for Brighton, now nicknamed the Seagulls.
The decisive blow came in extra time when Danny Welbeck, once a loanee at Sunderland, dashed Newcastle’s hopes for yet another year.
However, the sting of this loss was significantly alleviated two weeks later when Eddie Howe’s squad triumphed in the Carabao Cup, ending a 70-year drought for domestic trophies and erasing the gloom of the earlier FA Cup exit.
They achieved this feat by defeating the Premier League’s top team, Liverpool, even as their star player Anthony Gordon watched from the sidelines.
Gordon had been shown a red card during the Brighton match, compounding Newcastle’s woes that day, and he still has one more game to sit out due to suspension.
After the match, Welbeck earned widespread praise and shared a surprising anecdote about a post-game call from his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking to the BBC, the Brighton forward revealed that Ferguson, now 83, still keeps in touch with him regularly. Welbeck recounted how Ferguson, calling from South Africa with no caller ID, reached out to discuss his goal and performance against Newcastle.
“Sometimes I don’t even answer because I don’t know who it is, but it was him, and he was absolutely thrilled,” Welbeck said. He emphasized the enduring bond with Ferguson, noting how the legendary manager always looked out for his players’ best interests, a connection that persists to this day.
Wayne Rooney, Welbeck’s former teammate at Manchester United, also weighed in, suggesting that the 34-year-old striker, who has notched seven Premier League goals this season, could still contribute at Old Trafford.
Reflecting on Welbeck’s career, Rooney remarked, “Danny’s a fantastic teammate to have on the pitch. Honestly, I’d love to see him back at Manchester United.
He’s been a consistent goal-scorer throughout his career. Sure, injuries slowed him down early on, but he’s overcome them and is enjoying an incredible season.”
Alious
