FA Cup Dream Debut: Semenyo Shines as Man City Run Riot in Historic FA Cup Win

Frank Ocansey

Editor, PulseView

FA Cup: Antoine Semenyo’s fairytale rise in English football continued in spectacular fashion as the Ghana forward marked his Manchester City debut with a goal and an assist in a record-equalling 10-1 FA Cup demolition of Exeter City, just four days after completing a £65 million move from AFC Bournemouth.

The 26-year-old wasted no time announcing himself at the Etihad Stadium, delivering a commanding performance that earned him the Man of the Match award as City recorded their biggest win under Pep Guardiola and matched the club’s largest-ever victory.

Semenyo, who enjoyed three impressive seasons at Bournemouth, showed exactly why City moved decisively to secure his signature. His energy, direct running and composure in front of goal gave fans an early glimpse of what he brings to Guardiola’s attacking setup.

His debut goal came after a smart run onto a pass from Rayan Cherki, calmly slipping the ball past Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth. He later provided a pinpoint assist, becoming the first City player to both score and assist on his debut since Sergio Agüero in 2011.

With Guardiola serving a one-match touchline ban, assistant coach Pep Lijnders oversaw the match and praised the Ghanaian’s seamless transition into the squad.

“Antoine is settling well. He’s humble, he attacks quickly, he presses relentlessly and adapts fast to our style. He brings exactly what we need to the frontline,” Lijnders said.

Semenyo’s impact was all the more impressive in a game that saw City reach double figures for the first time since Guardiola took charge, and register the biggest FA Cup victory by a top-flight side in over six decades.

FA Cup — Semenyo (left): Photo credit: Manchester City

Teammate Rico Lewis, who benefited from one of Semenyo’s assists, was full of praise for the new signing.

“Everyone knows how good he is. There’s a reason everybody wanted him. It feels like a seamless transition, and he’s a great person too,” Lewis said.

City’s dominant display extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches in all competitions, as they continue to compete strongly on multiple fronts, including the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League.

For Semenyo, who had already scored 10 Premier League goals this season before his move, the debut could hardly have gone better a statement performance that suggests his journey at Manchester City is only just beginning.