Semenyo Named Man of the Match in Stunning Manchester City Debut
Ghanaian forward shines with a goal and an assist as City crush Exeter in the FA Cup
- Semenyo wins Man of the Match on his Manchester City debut.
- He records a goal, an assist, and a 91% pass completion rate.
- City storm into the next FA Cup round with a 10–1 victory.
Antoine Semenyo made an unforgettable first appearance at the Etihad Stadium, delivering a Man of the Match performance as Manchester City equalled their biggest FA Cup win with a crushing 10–1 victory over Exeter City.
The Ghanaian forward, who recently completed a £64 million move to the Premier League champions, quickly justified his price tag with a display marked by pace, precision and relentless attacking intent.
What was expected to be a routine cup fixture turned into a showcase, with Semenyo emerging as the driving force behind City’s devastating second-half performance that overwhelmed the League One side.
Handed a starting role by the City technical team, Semenyo looked immediately at home within the club’s intricate tactical setup. His composure and awareness suggested a player already fully attuned to City’s philosophy.
Statistically, his debut was exceptional. Operating in the attacking third, Semenyo recorded an impressive 91 per cent pass completion rate in the opposition half—an extraordinary return for a player making his first competitive start in a front-line role.
His influence was evident in the build-up to City’s fifth goal, where a perfectly weighted cross from Semenyo was calmly finished by Rico Lewis. He later capped his performance with a goal of his own, racing onto a precise through ball from fellow new signing Rayan Cherki before finishing confidently past the Exeter goalkeeper.
With Pep Guardiola absent from the touchline for the fixture, assistant coach Pep Lijnders oversaw the team and was full of praise for the Ghanaian’s contribution.
“Antoine is settling in very well. He gives us something important in the front line,” Lijnders said after the match. “He attacks with speed, presses aggressively, and never stops working. Today showed how quickly he can adapt to our style.”
Lijnders added that Semenyo’s work rate and pressing ability were key reasons behind City’s decision to activate his release clause earlier this month.
The emphatic win sends Manchester City into the next round of the FA Cup and serves as a strong statement of intent. For Semenyo, the flawless debut provides an ideal foundation as City turn their focus toward major silverware.
The Black Stars forward is now expected to play a key role in City’s upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Newcastle United, where he will look to build on a debut that has already captured the attention of English football.
