Antoine Semenyo scored on his debut as a rampant Manchester City showed no mercy by putting 10 past sorry League One side Exeter City to match the club’s biggest victory and reach the FA Cup fourth round in ruthless fashion.
Forward Semenyo was thrown straight in to the starting line-up after completing his £65m move from Bournemouth on Friday and he started to repay a chunk of that fee with a goal and assist in the second half.
Pep Guardiola who was in the stands as he served a one-game touchline ban for receiving three yellow cards this season, picked a strong starting 11 that proved too powerful for a side two tiers below them.
Academy product Max Alleyne set City on their way to an emphatic victory by opening the scoring on 12 minutes, sticking out a left leg to poke in a finish which crept over the line.
Just 12 minutes later, the game was effectively over as a contest as Rodri, who captained the side, smashed home a 30-yard thunderbolt, while Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater both netted unfortunate own goals before the break.
Exeter, buoyed on by a 7,800-strong following, could have taken a shock lead inside the opening five minutes but Liam Oakes’ rising header at the far post was pushed over by James Trafford’s sharp, reflex save.
The scoreboard became a miserable sight for Exeter in the second half as City racked up six more goals.
Rico Lewis poked home from Semenyo’s cross and the Ghanaian rolled home a lovely finish after being put through, while Tijjani Reijnders’s curling effort, Nico O’Reilly’s header and Ryan McAidoo’s drilled strike ensured City advanced into the next round, the draw for which takes place on Monday.
Exeter’s George Birch, 19, made sure he had a moment to remember at Etihad Stadium by hammering in a consolation for the away side late on, but there was still time for Lewis to smash in the 10th.
The final scoreline matched a 10-1 victory over Huddersfield Town in a second-tier league match in November 1987 – and coincidentally, the scoring sequence was exactly the same: City leading 4-0 at half-time, went 9-0 up before a late goal from the visitors, with just enough time for the home side to reach double figures.
Semenyo signed for City from Bournemouth on Friday in a £65 million transfer deal. Prior to his transfer to City, the Ghanaian attacker was having a flamboyant season having scored 10 Premier League goals with 3 assists. Semenyo was crowned the Man of the Match in his City debut on Saturday.
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In another development, Morocco’s Brahim Díaz has carved his name into Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) folklore by scoring in five consecutive matches at the 2025 tournament, equaling a record set by Ghanaian icon Osei Kofi back in 1968.
The Real Madrid forward’s remarkable run underscores Morocco’s dominance as the Atlas Lions advance deep into the competition.
Díaz sealed his latest milestone with a clinical strike in Morocco’s 2-0 quarter-final triumph over Cameroon on Friday, booking their spot in the semifinals.
The goal not only silenced the Indomitable Lions but also extended his personal streak, captivating fans across the continent.
His scoring spree ignited in the group stage against Comoros, followed by vital goals versus Mali and Zambia that propelled Morocco forward.
Díaz then delivered the decisive blow in the round-of-16 victory over Tanzania, before adding to his tally in the quarters.
Only the second player in AFCON history to achieve this feat, Díaz joins Osei Kofi, whose legendary career featured multiple tournament appearances and top-scorer honors at the 1965 edition.
Kofi’s contributions helped define Ghana’s golden era in African football.
With the semifinals against the winner of Algeria and Nigeria looming, Díaz eyes outright history a goal there would make him the first to net in six straight AFCON games, potentially etching an unbeatable legacy.
