This is history. Right here, right now, Newcastle United are going to the revamped Wembley for the first time in club history for the big occasion and back to the venue of legends for the first time in 24 years.
The scramble for hotels and train tickets was already well under before Eddie Howe's United flew into a 2-0 lead in front of a full house at St James' Park and sent Trainline.com into meltdown. But this is the stuff that dreams are made of, this is the reason we follow Newcastle, this is the type of passion the wealthy investors from Saudi Arabia paid their money for and this is the type of night Mike Ashley did not want to entertain because he feared the cups could relegate the Magpies.
As referee Paul Tierney blasted his whistle at St James' Park the green light which signalled the road to Wembley was open for Geordie fans and all of the emotions of the last few years exploded into the cool January air at St James'.
The Magpies were playing in their first League Cup semi-final since 1976 - when they reached the showpiece at Wembley - and bidding for their first final since 1999 when they were beaten by Manchester United in front of the old Twin Towers. That United did it with comparative ease to days gone by was refreshing.
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United went into the second leg of their last four shootout with a slender victory under their belts having beaten the Saints 1-0 at St Mary's thanks to Joelinton's strike. Super goalie Nick Pope went into the game having gone 15 hours without conceding a solitary strike.
The Magpies had an early glimpse of goal when Sean Longstaff cut the ball across the six-yard box but Callum Wilson - who went into the game amid a goal drought - could not get on the end of it. But with four minutes gone that Gallowgate roof was indeed raised.
Kieran Trippier made the goal possible as he built up play down the right to pick out Longstaff who sent an angled low finish across the six-yard box and into the Saints net. It was the dream goal for Longstaff after latching on to Bruno's pass before exchanging passes with the England full-back, who turned Kyle Walker-Peters inside out, before the Geordie applied the finish and slid in on his knees in front of the Gallowgate End.
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With the Wembley chants quickly cascading down from the stands, Miguel Almiron got a glimpse of goal but smashed it high over the bar. A Trippier corner on 12 minutes was swung in and twice cleared by the Saints before Almiron blazed over again.
The missed chances were poor but ate up vital seconds for the Magpies with the Saints chasing two goals just to take the game to extra time. Longstaff must have pinched himself with 21 minutes on the clock as he found himself celebrating his second of the night.
It was another goal to admire from United as Joelinton and Joe Willock combined to find Almiron who picked out Longstaff to ram home his second on 21 minutes - cue more crazy celebrations. If Carlsberg did starts to semi-finals this was surely it?
It was Dreamland for Newcastle but Southampton shocked St James' Park and perhaps their own fans when they reduced arrears on 30 minutes.
And when Che Adams' thunderbolt came on 30 minutes it was the first time Pope had to fish the ball out of his net in 15 and a half hours! Willock, who had been so instrumental in the second for Longstaff, misplaced his pass and Adams made no mistake from 22-yards.
The teams went in with Newcastle 3-1 up on aggregate with Wembley within touching distance for the Magpies. Unsurprisingly, Southampton went for broke at half-time by bringing on Romain Perraud and Romeo Lavia came on for Saints with Lyanco and Carlos Alcarez going off.
On 52 minutes, Newcastle were afforded a glimpse of goal from 25 yards but Fabian Schar's free-kick struck the wall. With the game approaching the hour mark, United looked to put the whole affair to bed.
That was the cue for Allan Saint-Maximin, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak to replace Willock, Wilson and Almiron. The game had ticked to the 64th minute mark with Southampton unable to find a second half shot with belief draining away from Nathan Jones' side.
Yet even when old boy Adam Armstrong sneaked through and faced Pope one on one the Toon stopper sprinted out and made the block with a sprawling save. Seeing his run of clean sheets pierced clearly hadn't troubled him too much.
There were 12 minutes left when Bruno - who had been in tears just two weeks ago in fear of missing this mammoth occasion - let fly with his left boot but the ball flashed just wide at the Leazes End. With emotions bubbling over Bruno upended Sam Edozie to hand the Saints a free-kick.
After a VAR check it was then deemed that Bruno's challenge was classed as serious foul play and he was shown the red card. The resultant free-kick from James Ward-Prowse struck the wall. Isak took the blow for the team but was OK to continue after treatment.
Any fears that Bruno would miss the final were quickly quashed with a rule check showing that a three-game ban won't stretch to the final and he will be clear to play. An injury to Isak delayed seven minutes of stoppage time even longer and handed Jamaal Lascelles an appearance on the big night.
Elliot Anderson came on to replace substitute Murphy in the dying stages. But at 22:02 history was made, there will be a black and white invasion in the capital.
The final whistle signalled party time on Tyneside - a party that will go on until February 26 that's safe to say. Drink it in, the Toon are going back to Wembley.
Attendance: 51,975
Referee: Paul Tierney
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