Semenyo Delivers Instant Impact as Manchester City Advance Towards League Cup Final

Antoine Semenyo quickly became a Manchester City favourite after helping Pep Guardiolas team secure a strong position in the League Cup final race with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle.

The Ghanaian forward, who moved from Bournemouth for £65 million ($87 million) just last week, netted the opener and saw another effort disallowed amid controversy.

Rayan Cherki then struck what might prove decisive in the 98th minute.

Newcastle lifted the League Cup last term to end a 70 year drought for silverware, yet they face an uphill battle to reach Wembley in the semi final return fixture on February 4.

Semenyo had also found the net on his debut this Saturday during a 10-1 thrashing of Exeter in the FA Cup.

In past seasons, he would have been ineligible after playing for Bournemouth earlier in the tournament.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe voiced his frustration pre match over this years rule allowing players to represent two teams in the same competition, a change that City exploited fully.

Guardiola demonstrated his hunger for a first final appearance since 2021 by starting Erling Haaland in the League Cup for the first time in three years, fielding a robust lineup days before their Premier League trip to Manchester United.

Yoane Wissa squandered an excellent opportunity early on by firing over, as Newcastle surged forward before a full house at St James Park.

That proved the nearest any team got in a cautious opening period.

Goalkeeper James Trafford, a former Newcastle interest who rejoined the Etihad from Burnley in July, has mostly sat behind Gianluigi Donnarumma this campaign but shone with a brilliant stop to deny Wissas dipping header soon after the break.

Moments on, Bruno Guimaraes crashed a shot off the upright as Newcastle pushed for a breakthrough.

Yet they were hit on the counter when Jeremy Doku raced to the line and his delivery fell to Bernardo Silva, whose touch set up Semenyo to tap in from near the goal.

Semenyo believed he had claimed a brace across two games after volleying home from a set piece corner.

Still, following a VAR check that exceeded five minutes, the decision stood that Haaland had impeded Malick Thiaws chance to challenge for the ball while in an offside spot.

The lively home supporters hailed the reprieve as if it were a goal, but Newcastle could not convert despite late efforts from Nick Woltemade.

Citys breaks eventually paid off as Cherki finished Rayan Ait Nours cut back to clinch a solid advantage from the first leg.