In an exciting first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal victory against Southampton, Joelinton scored the game-winning goal to advance Newcastle one step closer to Wembley.

With 17 minutes remaining on a breathless night at St Mary's, the Brazilian, who twice saw a goal disallowed and committed a poor error, sealed a 1-0 victory for the Magpies by converting a low cross from substitute Alexander Isak.

Saints believed they had quickly equalized through Adam Armstrong, a Newcastle academy graduate, but VAR's intervention resulted in the goal being disallowed for handball.

Joelinton's second-half strike puts @NUFC firmly in the driving seat at the halfway stage in the tie 💪#EFL | @CazooUK pic.twitter.com/oiYKCUYtw8— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) January 24, 2023

Joelinton's first-half attempt was controversially called out for what officials determined to be a handball, and early in the second period he wastefully shot over with the goal open.

Defender Duje Caleta-Car was ejected four minutes from time for a second bookable offense, and Southampton concluded the tense match with 10 men.

The home team had plenty of opportunities to tie or go ahead of the north-east team, but Nick Pope was in brilliant form to stop Che Adams and Armstrong's disappointment against his old team.

As Newcastle sought to win its first significant domestic prize since 1955, manager Eddie Howe urged his team to push themselves more upon arrival on the south coast.

The high-flying Magpies stuck with the team which began Saturday’s goalless Premier League draw at Crystal Palace, while struggling Saints made four changes, including full debuts to January signings Carlos Alcaraz and Mislav Orsic.

Howe’s men had the better of an uninspiring opening period which lacked quality and chances but contained a major talking point.

Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock was at the heart of the most promising openings.

The former Arsenal player twice fired woefully over when unmarked, before sparking the contentious 39th-minute incident by bursting clear on the left and cutting inside Lyanco to force a low stop out of Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

Although Mohammed Salisu managed to block Callum Wilson’s initial follow-up effort, Joelinton thumped home the resultant loose ball, only for referee Stuart Attwell to penalise him for handball.

VAR was introduced for this round of the competition but, despite serious debate about where the ball struck Joelinton, the onfield decision was not overturned.

There were then worrying scenes when Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo was forced off after a heavy collision with visiting goalkeeper Pope, to be replaced by Armstrong.

Newcastle were resounding 4-1 winners on this ground in the Premier League in November, leading to the dismissal of former Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Miguel Almiron opened the scoring that day and he created two golden chances early in the second period as the away side attempted to eradicate that first-half frustration.

Joelinton somehow fired over in the 53rd minute following Almiron’s neat one-two with Sean Longstaff on the right, before Sven Botman hit the side-netting from a more difficult opening a minute later.

Pope registered nine successive clean sheets after conceding here just under three months ago.

The England keeper underlined his international credentials by twice denying Adams, the first time after the Saints substitute was sent clean through by Alcaraz, before Newcastle snatched the advantage.

Sweden striker Isak burst away from Lyanco on the right and delivered a perfect low cross for Joelinton to finally put his name on the scoresheet.

Newcastle’s sold-out away end was still revelling in the prospect of a first Wembley cup final since 1999 when Southampton thought they had levelled.

Armstrong scruffily finished after Samuel Edozie turned the ball across goal but the joy was cut short by Stockley Park.

Tempers then threatened to boil over in the closing stages.

A coming together between Bruno Guimaraes and Lyanco sparked a mass brawl, before Caleta-Car, cautioned for scything down Almiron in the first half, was sent off for upending Allan Saint-Maximin.

Isak came close to doubling the advantage in added time but hit the side- netting after rounding Bazunu.

Newcastle now have a fixture-free week to prepare for the return meeting, while Saints go to St James’ Park following an FA Cup fourth-round clash with Blackpool.