A sensational goalscoring debut from Antoine Semenyo and a 10-1 thrashing of Exeter in the FA Cup third round have Manchester City fans buzzing! But here's where it gets controversial...
In a game that saw City hit double figures, the real story was the comeback of Rodri, who netted his first goal in over 20 months. And let's not forget the double from Rico Lewis, who was on fire!
The young guns were also on display, with Max Alleyne kicking things off and Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O'Reilly, and 17-year-old Ryan McAidoo all getting their names on the scoresheet. But Exeter did have their moment of glory with a superb consolation strike from George Birch.
After a recent dip in form with three consecutive draws in the Premier League, City needed this win, and they got it in style. It was their biggest victory since 1987, when they also scored 10 against Huddersfield.
Despite Pep Guardiola's absence due to a one-match ban, his team sheet showed he meant business. With six changes, City still fielded a strong lineup, including the debut of Semenyo, who joined for a whopping £62.5 million from Bournemouth.
The game started with a bang as Exeter almost took an early lead, but City's James Trafford kept them at bay. From there, it was all City as they dominated the first half, with Alleyne, Rodri, and two own goals putting them 4-0 up at the break.
The second half was a stroll in the park for City, with Lewis and Semenyo extending the lead. Reijnders and O'Reilly added further gloss to the scoreline, and McAidoo and Birch traded goals before Lewis capped off the rout in stoppage time.
A dominant performance, a goalscoring feast, and a perfect afternoon for City. But what do you think? Was this a fair reflection of the game, or did Exeter put up more of a fight than the scoreline suggests? Let us know in the comments!
