Isak strikes again as Newcastle beats Arsenal 2-0 in League Cup semifinal 1st leg

Newcastle moved a step closer to a first major domestic trophy since 1955 with a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals Tuesday.

Goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon at the Emirates Stadium put Newcastle within reach of the final at Wembley Stadium in March. The second leg is at St James' Park on Feb. 5.

“It’s a great result. It’s only the first half. If we don't go through then this has no meaning, but we can't hide from the fact that this is a massive win,” Isak said.

It was Newcastle's first win at the Emirates since 2010 and Arsenal's first home defeat since April.

Isak struck in the 37th minute to continue his outstanding scoring run with his 14th goal in 15 games. The Sweden international was involved in Newcastle's second in the 51st, when his shot was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and the rebound was converted by Gordon.

Despite being bought by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund in 2021, Newcastle hasn't won a major domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup almost 70 years ago. But it is close to second League Cup final in three years after losing to Manchester United in 2023.

Newcastle is also pushing for a return to the Champions League after missing out last season — sitting fifth in the Premier League standings and one point outside of the qualifying places for European club soccer's elite tournament.

Victory against Arsenal was a seventh straight win in all competitions for Eddie Howe's team, which has been inspired by Isak's brilliant goal-scoring form.

He fired in off the underside of the crossbar from close range after a long free kick was played into his path by Jacob Murphy.

It was Isak's seventh goal in his last five games.

Despite in-stadium referee announcements being trialed for the match, an apparent push in the buildup to his goal did not result in referee Craig Pawson reviewing the sideline monitor.

It was Isak's sharpness that led to Newcastle's second. His effort from inside the box six minutes into the second half was parried by Raya, but Gordon was the quickest to react at the far post to fire home.

Arsenal was unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions and is second in the Premier League standings.

It had the chance to take the lead when Gabriel Martinelli burst through in the 29th and fired against the post.

Kai Havertz wasted a golden opportunity to pull a goal back when his attempted header from directly in front of goal came off his shoulder and went wide.

“We rode our luck a little bit at times, but (I’m) really pleased with the result,” Howe said.

Tottenham plays Liverpool in the other semifinal, with the first leg being staged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, right, reacts after a missed opportunity during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, left, is congratulated after scoring his sides second goal during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Kai Havertz, right, hangs on to the net after a missed opportunity on goal during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Newcastle's Alexander Isak, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Newcastle's Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Newcastle's Alexander Isak, third right, on his way to scoring the opening goal during the English League Cup semifinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

VIENNA (AP) — Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will serve as the country's interim leader while the far-right Freedom Party attempts to put together a new coalition government, the president's office said Wednesday.

Schallenberg, 55, will take on the duties of outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who announced his resignation over the weekend after his efforts to put together a coalition without the Freedom Party collapsed. Nehammer plans to step down on Friday.

President Alexander Van der Bellen's office said in a statement that the head of state will formally task Schallenberg with “continuing the management of the chancellery and leading the interim government.”

It will be Schallenberg’s second — and, again, likely brief — stint as Austria’s leader. Schallenberg served as chancellor for less than two months in late 2021 after the resignation of Sebastian Kurz, before passing the job to Nehammer and returning to the Foreign Ministry.

The anti-immigration, euroskeptic and Russia-friendly Freedom Party won Austria’s parliamentary election in September, but was initially shunned by other parties.

After Nehammer announced his resignation, his conservative Austrian People’s Party made an abrupt U-turn on its previous refusal to contemplate working with the Freedom Party under its leader, Herbert Kickl.

On Monday, Kickl received a mandate to try to form what would be the first national government led by the far right since World War II. That's a process that could take weeks or months, and isn't guaranteed to succeed.

Schallenberg, who spent much of his earlier career as a diplomat, has been foreign minister since 2019 apart from his brief previous interlude as chancellor. He has said he wouldn’t stay in the government under Kickl.

Kickl says he will approach talks on a coalition with clear expectations of the People's Party, including “an awareness of who won the election" and “an understanding of who is responsible for the mistakes of the past." He said he's prepared for new elections if talks fail.

The conservatives' interim leader, Christian Stocker, said Wednesday he will meet Kickl. He says he wants “honest answers to questions that are important for us and Austria.”

“There must be an honest answer to whether we want to be a constructive and reliable part of the European Union, or the opposite,” he said. “There must be an honest answer to whether we want to orient ourselves toward the free world, or toward dictatorships.”

The leader of Austria's Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, addresses a news conference, in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025. Herbert Kickl received a mandate Monday to try to form a new government. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)

FILE -Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)