Lewis Miley delivered in stoppage time as Newcastle United beat Fulham 2-1 at St. James' Park to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals, the holders surviving a tense finish after a late long-range attempt from Kenny Tete flew just over the top-left corner.
Miley had already been denied from close range by Benjamin Lecomte moments before the decisive moment. The midfielder reacted again in the 92nd minute, drifting into space and guiding Sandro Tonali's corner beyond Lecomte with a glancing header that sparked relief among the home support.
The match opened at a fast tempo, with Newcastle United striking first after only 10 minutes. Yoane Wissa scored on a full debut start, finishing from inside the six-yard box after Jacob Murphy's driven cross was pushed
into Wissa's path by visiting goalkeeper Lecomte.
Fulham answered quickly and quietened the early celebrations. Six minutes after Wissa's opener, Sasa Lukic met Antonee Robinson's accurate cross and directed a firm header into the bottom-left corner, exposing space inside the area and restoring parity in a contest that stayed finely balanced for long spells.
Newcastle United grew stronger as the first half continued, forcing Fulham deeper. Bruno Guimaraes tested Lecomte with a powerful effort that stung the goalkeeper's hands, while Tino Livramento burst into the box from a tight angle but fired over, squandering another promising opportunity for Eddie Howe's side.
After the interval, Newcastle United thought they had retaken the lead on 65 minutes when Joachim Andersen diverted the ball into his own net, only for the assistant's flag to intervene. Livramento delivered another dangerous cross soon after, with Lecomte gathering under pressure as Harvey Barnes and Wissa waited inside the penalty area.
Eddie Howe turned to the bench as the half wore on, sending on Nick Woltemade, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon to freshen Newcastle United's attack. Even with those changes, Fulham held firm for long periods, limiting clear chances until Miley arrived late in the box to settle the tie.
MILEY'S LATE HEADER SENDS US INTO THE SEMI-FINAL!!pic.twitter.com/iOjlYXxsJENewcastle United (@NUFC) December 17, 2025
Newcastle United, EFL Cup numbers and Miley's impact
This EFL Cup win arrived after Newcastle United's disappointing Tyne-Wear derby defeat to Sunderland, though sections of the St. James' Park crowd still expressed frustration. Newcastle United produced more efforts yet sometimes lacked fluency in the final third against Fulham's compact defensive shape.
Newcastle United created 14 shots, with six on target, generating an expected goals value of 1.54. Fulham managed six attempts and an xG of 0.43. The numbers underlined Newcastle United's attacking control, even if the holders needed Miley's late intervention to complete the job.
Beyond the decisive header, Miley stood out across several metrics. The youngster led Newcastle United for total duels won with 10, and also topped the side in aerial duels, winning four. Miley recorded 91 touches overall, and only Guimaraes, with 31, completed more passes in the final third than Miley's 24.
The result kept Newcastle United's defence of the EFL Cup on track and brought a more positive mood after the Sunderland setback. While the display was not always fluent, the statistics and Miley's influence suggested progress, giving Eddie Howe further options in midfield ahead of the semi-final stage.
