The U's Matchzone

Match Report: FA Cup – Oxford United 2-3 Newcastle United (aet)

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Oxford United have bowed out of the FA Cup despite a decent display against Newcastle United.

The Magpies took a two-goal lead into half time but first goals for the club from Liam Kelly and Nathan Holland with six minutes remaining sent the game into extra time.

But Allan Saint-Maximin won the game in second half of extra time.

Karl Robinson made two changes from the side that beat Blackpool at the weekend, with Elliott Moore replacing John Mousinho, while Jamie Mackie came in for the injured James Henry.

Simon Eastwood started in goal behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, Moore, Rob Dickie and Sam Long.

Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat in midfield behind Cameron Brannagan and Mark Sykes, with Nathan Holland and Marcus Browne as the wingers while Mackie led the line.

The atmosphere was electric ahead of kick-off, and Oxford started brightly. Mackie chased a long ball down the left inside the opening minute but reluctantly conceded a throw-in deep in the Newcastle half.

With the visitors first real attack, Oxford threw bodies on the line to deny any chance at goal, but offside had been called beforehand.

After ten minutes, Newcastle had all of the possession but rarely threatened, with the U’s throwing bodies and putting in tackles on numerous occasions.

But from out of nowhere, Gorrin lost possession and the U’s were unable to clear their line, presenting Sean Longstaff with the chance to strike home the opener.

Less than a minute later, Browne felt he was fouled but nothing was awarded, and Nabil Bentaleb found Joelinton, who should have easily doubled the Magpies’ lead.

Oxford looked comfortable when Newcastle had the ball but lacked any real authority in possession or while going forward.

But then Browne was played down the right and whipped a first time delivery into the box which was cleared for the U’s first corner. From the dead ball, Newcastle eventually cleared their lines.

Oxford were then awarded a free kick in a good position when Matty Longstaff fouled Sykes, but the hosts were unable to threaten. Browne picked the second ball up but was fouled by Miguel Almiron –  which the ref denied – allowing Sean Longstaff to pump the ball forward to Joelinton who slotted past Eastwood from a one on one position.

Oxford rallied immediately. Long found Mackie in the box but was denied by Karl Darlow before Long then smashed an effort on target which was cleared off the line by the Magpies skipper.

Despite being two goals down, Robinson’s side had their tails up. However, the momentum was immediately subdued when Joelinton, who took a knock earlier in the half, was subbed off, with Allan Saint-Maximin his replacement.

But Sykes was played in down the right and his delivery found Holland, unfortunately for him and Oxford, his effort hit Mackie before bouncing over.

The game was open. Almiron found space but his effort was off target, while at the other end, Brannagan wasted a left-footed king range effort.

As the break drew closer, Oxford launched a counter-attack which allowed Holland to try his luck, but his effort was blocked before Sykes fired the rebound well wide.

Newcastle could have added a third within thirty seconds of the restart when Saint-Maximin found former Swindon Town man Matt Ritchie, but his effort was blocked by Dickie.

Oxford then survived an attempted penalty appeal after Almiron went down following a slight collision with Long who was unsighted, but nothing was given.

At the other end, the ball was played out right to Long who swung another decent delivery, but Mackie appeared to foul the defender before Ruffels could reach the ball.

Ruffels was involved in Oxford’s next chance when the left-back played the cross into Mackie, but the veteran striker was unable to turn and test Darlow. The striker was then replaced by Matty Taylor.

Despite some good chances, Oxford were then forced into making a change after Browne stayed down. The on-loan Middlesbrough man was replaced by Liam Kelly.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Holland was clever down the left but his ball to Taylor in the box was unable to test Darlow.

Oxford were beginning to get on top and were sensing an opportunity. With seven minutes remaining, Kelly netted his first Oxford goal on just his second appearance when he struck a sweet free-kick front just outside the box. The game was back on.

At the other end, Almiron wanted to kill the game and single-handedly launched a counter, but Eastwood made an easy save.

Oxford then won a corner, but Dickie saw his effort collected comfortably by Darlow with under five minutes remaining.

Saint-Maximin twisted and turned at the other end and found Sean Longstaff, but the midfielder was unable to add his second of the game with his effort sliding just wide.

As the four additional minutes were announced, Ruffles squandered the chance to equalise. Oxford attacked well and created space in the box but the full-back saw his effort sail just over.

Three minutes into injury time, Holland netted his first U’s goal to send the tie into extra time. The winger volleyed home a terrific effort from a long free kick with the U’s coming from two goals down.

Inside the opening minute of extra time, Holland fired a ball into the box but substitute Dan Agyei couldn’t get the ball out of his feet before Brannagan fired over.

Saint-Maximin then broke clear at the other end but Eastwood was equal to his long-range effort.

Despite the chance for Newcastle, Oxford were on top. Agyei played through Sykes who was fouled just outside the box, but Kelly was unable to repeat his earlier effort with the dead ball.

The U’s would have been happy with their extra time first-half display, but tiredness and fatigue could have been an issue with fifteen minutes remaining.

But it was the visitors who started the second half of extra time stronger. The Magpies won a corner which eventually fell to Matty Longstaff, but his left-footed effort was wide.

Saint-Maximin looked the visitors most dangerous threat. He tested Eastwood after good play down the left, but the U’s goalkeeper made a comfortable save.

And it was that man that won the game with five minutes of extra-time remaining. The forward found space and smashed the ball past Eastwood to give Newcastle the lead.

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