Wembley beckons for the Uniteds of Manchester and Newcastle.
Nottingham Forest and particularly, Southampton, will still have something to say about that but, to all extents and purposes, we have a pretty good idea about who will contest the 2023 EFL Cup final.
That was as good as predicted before the first legs of these last four ties but the tasks still had to be overcome by the respective favourites and, ultimately, they were – although both defeated hosts can feel slightly aggrieved by the final scorelines.
There were EFL Cup 2023 highlights aplenty for Manchester United in Nottingham in what was a tie for the romantics.
For this is a competition close to the heart of Forest whose first major trophy was the 1978 League Cup under the late, great Brian Clough.
That success – in which they beat European Cup holders Liverpool in a replay at Old Trafford thanks to a controversial penalty – is seen by Forest legend Martin O’Neill as a “springboard” for all that was to come.
Within two months they were league champions and, 12 months later, they had collected the first of successive European Cups.
Now here they were contesting the semi-final of a major cup competition for the first time in 31 years.
Certainly, they gave as good as they got during the opening 45 minutes and were unfortunate to go in behind at the break, let alone two goals down, after a second of the stroke of half-time.
That appeared the moment that killed their belief and, when Bruno Fernandes produced an impressive finish a minute from time, rifling home a low drive after being picked out by substitute Anthony Elanga, the tie was all but over too.
Marcus Rashford had given United a dream start inside six minutes with a fine goal, his 10th in as many matches.
Yet Forest were very unfortunate not to be level when Sam Surridge slotted the ball neatly into the far bottom corner only for VAR to adjudge him to be offside by the small margins of a knee.
They looked the next likely side to score but, with seconds remaining in the half, Wayne Hennessey could only parry an effort from Antony and there was on-loan Wout Weghorst to react quickly and stab the rebound high into the net.
Naturally, that appeared to dishearten Forest who have seen off the likes of Spurs and Wolves to get this far but whose priority is to secure Premier League status in their first year in the top flight for 23 years.
Down on the south coast, the SBOTOP EFL Cup 2023 betting odds also backed a United, this time from Tyneside, ahead of their trip to Southampton.
Of course, there could be no guarantees.
This was a Saints side which, though rock bottom in the Premier League, impressively despatched champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals a fortnight ago.
Despite their league position, they have refused to let their heads drop and were contesting a fourth cup semi-final since 2017.
They had a goal disallowed and pressed and pressed against the team with the best defensive record in the top flight so far this term.
However, not only did they have to find a way through a tight rearguard, they also had to be able to beat the in-form Nick Pope who came into the game with nine consecutive clean sheets.
In fact, the last time he conceded a goal was a 4-1 league win at Southampton in early November.
And after he did his bit to thwart the Saints, Joelinton’s second-half strike proved the difference.
It was certainly a reward for his perseverance as he had seen a first-half goal ruled out for handball and then advanced his contender for miss of the season at the beginning of the second half.
In the end, though, they claimed the win that makes them firm favourites to progress to the final.
History weighs heavily on Newcastle and their fanatical support and it has been joined by huge expectations since Mike Ashley sold up.
They are very much in control of this tie and one step closer to a first cup final since 1999 and, beyond that, a first trophy since the 1969 Fairs Cup.
Hopes are definitely rising on Tyneside that the long, barren years may finally coming to an end, judging by the Toon Army’s wild scenes of celebration at the final whistle. The second legs take place next week.
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