Semenyo Nets Debut Goal for Man City in 10-1 Thrashing of Exeter

Ghanaian striker Antoine Semenyo marked his Manchester City debut with a goal during their emphatic 10-1 victory over Exeter in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

The forward scored during the second half of City's commanding performance at the Etihad Stadium, with midfielder Rodri, hampered by injuries, also finding the net for the first time since May 2024.

Semenyo transferred to City from Bournemouth for £65 million (about $87 million) just a day earlier and quickly contributed to Pep Guardiola's squad.

Several teams, including Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham, had shown interest in Semenyo, whose buyout clause was said to lapse that Saturday.

Young defender Max Alleyne kicked off the scoring by tapping in from near the goal line for his initial City strike in the 12th minute.

Rodri broke his drought in the 24th minute, smashing the ball from range after Semenyo's effort was stopped.

Exeter's Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater then scored own goals in the 42nd and 45th minutes, sealing the outcome early.

City maintained their intensity, as Lewis converted a volley from Semenyo's cross in the 49th minute.

Five minutes after that, Semenyo claimed his debut goal with a precise shot.

Tijjani Reijnders added a seventh by curling a shot from outside the box in the 71st minute, followed by Nico O'Reilly's headed eighth from Lewis's delivery.

The 17-year-old Ryan McAidoo notched the ninth just beyond the penalty area in the 86th minute, before George Birch fired one into the top corner for Exeter's solitary goal.

Undeterred, City capped it off with Lewis's stoppage-time strike to reach double figures.

This marked City's largest margin of victory since their 10-1 defeat of Huddersfield back in 1987.

They had previously won 9-0 against Burton in 2019.

Although Guardiola watched from the stands due to a one-match suspension, his lineup of six alterations still featured a potent team including Erling Haaland.

The result provided City with their first triumph in four matches across all competitions, following three straight Premier League stalemates that placed them six points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.