By james art Three days after their Premier League defeat to the Blues at Stamford Bridge, the Magpies responded with an impressive first-half performance.
Alexander Isaac pounced on a mistake from the back to score the opener before Joe Wheelock’s deflected header was turned away by Axel Disasi.
Chelsea showed an improved performance in the second half and had their best chance of the game when Joao Felix fired wide, but last season’s runners-up could not find an answer.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca named a completely different starting XI from the weekend’s league clash, while Newcastle boss Eddie Howe made five changes which included the reintroduction of Anthony Gordon into the squad following a groin problem.
The Magpies had a brilliant opportunity to take the lead after just three minutes when Isaac whipped in a cross from the right and Joelinton tapped the ball just wide of the post on the half-volley.
Chelsea tested the hosts’ defense early on when Marc Cucurella’s low cross reached Renato Veiga in the center of the box but his shot was brilliantly saved by Sandro Tonali to go out for a corner.
They almost struck on the break when Felix charged forward, driving through the center of the pitch before blasting over the bar.
After some good periods of pressure around the penalty area, the hosts took the lead in the 23rd minute.
Stemming from a short kick in the Chelsea goal where a loose pass from Benoit Badiashile saw Veiga clear the ball away from Joelinton and Tonali threaded a pass to Issac who slotted into the bottom corner.
Tonali almost doubled the lead just moments later when his wicked strike went wide of the post, but Newcastle wasted no time in capitalizing on their momentum when a short free-kick allowed Issac to cut in from the left and cross, and the deflected shot from Wheelock’s head was built in by Disasi.
Felix proved dangerous for Chelsea on the break but saved two shots just before half-time.
A spirited start to the second half saw Newcastle’s defense work well to block Christopher Nkunku’s effort before he raced up the other end of the pitch where former Chelsea full-back Louis Hall had a low shot saved by Philip Jorgensen.
The visitors started to feel the pressure around the Newcastle penalty area, with Mihajlo Mudrik causing particular problems on the left flank.
He produced a couple of tantalizing low crosses into the center of the box, including one for Cucurella, whose shot was blocked, before Nick Pope made two solid saves from Chelsea corners.
Moments after Shaun Longstaff’s header was disallowed for offside, Chelsea had an excellent opportunity to pull one back when Tosin Adarabio’s defence-splitting pass found its way to Felix, but the striker poked the ball just wide of the post.
Newcastle almost grabbed a third in the closing stages when Emil Kraft raced to the ball from his own half before laying it off to Will Ossula who fired low wide.