The EFL have reported on a Newcastle United hat-trick.
An official EFL report on Wednesday starting with a headline of ‘Newcastle’s Salia hits hat-trick as Chesterfield edge eight-goal thriller in EFL Trophy’
The EFL report then going on to detail: ‘There were five group stage ties on the EFL Trophy calendar tonight, with a hat-trick, a five-goal haul and a host of tight finishes across the fixtures. Joseph Rabole Felix gave York an early lead, but Vakhtang Salia’s hat-trick either side of half-time, completed in the 83rd minute, saw Newcastle come from behind to win.’
Some of that is true…
The EFL Trophy is a midweek knockout cup competition which includes Clubs from EFL League One and League Two, plus an additional 16 invited sides from Premier League and EFL Championship clubs with Category One Academies.
The Newcastle United under 21s are competing and last night they were playing away against York City who are currently third in League Two.
A crowd of 1,835 at the LNER Stadium last night, including over 100 supporting the young Newcastle United stars of the future.
The Newcastle United Under-21s fell behind in the opening stages of their Group C clash at the LNER Community Stadium when York City’s scored after eight minutes.
Vakhtang Salia then equalised just before the break. The Georgia Under-21 international joined United from Dinamo Tbilisi on his 18th birthday in August 2025 but picked up a major injury. However, this strike was the Georgian teenager’s fourth goal in his last five games.
Exciting winger Kyran Thompson decided to move from Arsenal at the age of 16 this summer and turned 17 ten days ago. Making his very first start for the Newcastle United Under-21s since joining from the Gunners, the teenage winger scored within 60 seconds of the second half to give United the lead.
Then in the 83rd minute it was sub Afner Cá scoring his first goal for the club to seal a 3-1 win over York City. The 19-year-old 6ft 4 striker signed for Newcastle United in July when choosing not to renew his contract with La Liga club Levante when his old one ended.
A very young Newcastle United under 21 side pulling off a brilliant win against a York City side third in League Two.
Although Vakhtang Salia is still waiting for his first ever Newcastle United hat-trick…
Final score: York City 1 Newcastle United Under 21s 3
Newcastle United Under-21s: Roman Dowell, Scott Bailey (c), Dylan Charlton, Luke Craggs, Kyran Thompson (Kacey Wooster 90), Miodrag Pivaš, Vakhtang Salia (Afner Cá 70), Logan Watts, Henry Johnson (Johnny Emerson 70), Matheos Ferreira (Alfie Seldon 90), Sam Alabi (Fraser Harper 84)
Subs not used: George Mair, Jake Durrant