City hit double figures in ruthless FA Cup victory | OneFootball

Manchester City struck double figures as we beat Exeter City 10-1 in the FA Cup with Antoine Semenyo and Ryan McAidoo scoring on their debuts.

Max Alleyne, making just his second appearance, started the ball rolling from close range before a Rodri thunderbolt doubled our advantage.

City were four ahead before the break through own goals from Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater.

Semenyo’s cross was turned in by Rico Lewis before the January signing got on the scoresheet himself with a cool finish from Rayan Cherki’s throughball.

Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly and Academy winger Ryan McAidoo struck before a brilliant consolation goal from Exeter’s George Birch.

But there was still time for a 10th from Lewis on an unforgettable afternoon that saw City hit double figures for the first time in nearly four decades.

The game in 250 words

FA Cup third round weekend has always been a magical weekend in the football season when every lower league side dreams of a giantkilling and every top-flight Club hopes to avoid being in the headlines - except this time we will make them for extraordinary reasons.

League One Exeter made the long journey up from Devon with a huge following hoping for something special and were first to register an attempt on target when Liam Oakes’ close-range header was tipped over by James Trafford.

But City starting with an exciting front-three of new signing Semenyo, Academy winger McAidoo and Erling Haaland were in a ruthless mood and were soon crushing their hopes.

It was an unlikely scorer who put City ahead, Alleyne prodding home from close range after a McAidoo cross fell into his path, and it heralded a relentless display.

Rodri, back in the City line-up, grabbed his first goal since the third in the title-clinching victory over West Ham on the final day of the 2023/24 season. And it was another special hit, the Spaniard drilling an unstoppable strike from 30 yards’ out to double our advantage.

Two own goals before the break were not quite as spectacular, but effectively killed off the tie and were a forgettable three minutes for Exeter defender Fitzwater.

First, his headed clearance deflected in off Jake Doyle-Hayes before he then steered Reijnder’s low cross into his own net.

City made three changes at the break with seven homegrown players starting the half, and the goals kept coming up with Semenyo making his mark before he was taken off.

An inviting cross was turned in from close range by Lewis before he raced onto Rayan Cherki’s throughball and calmy slotted under the onrushing keeper.

Reijnders hits the seventh with a curling effort into the bottom corner, O’Reilly headed home Lewis’ cross before McAidoo hit a vicious strike to wrap up an impressive debut.

With the crowd baying for a 10th, Birch hit a stunning consolation for the visitors but there was still time for one more.

Lewis then turned in a loose ball as City scored 10 for the first time since beating Huddersfield by the same scoreline in November 1987.

Waiting in the wings

It will be a day that neither Semenyo nor McAidoo will forget, and many will hope that it is a beginning of an exciting City future for both.

Semenyo has been one of the most threatening forwards in the Premier League in recent seasons and showed with a number of clever moments why City brought him to the Club.

He combined well with Haaland midway through the first half with the City striker having a low shot that well saved by Joe Whitworth on the stretch before teeing up the fifth for Lewis and scoring the sixth himself.

McAidoo also displayed the electric skill that has lit up the Academy and with Jeremy Doku coming off the bench and Oscar Bobb and Savinho to return from injury, there’s some thrilling wide men at the Etihad.

STAR MAN - Semenyo

Not an easy pick on a day when virtually everything that City did came off.

But our new signing will have felt a little extra pressure following his high-profile move and took his debut in his stride.

Academy dreams

McAidoo became the seventh Academy player to make his first-team debut this season and was quickly followed by Mfuni as the eighth in what is already a special 2025/26 campaign.

The 17-year-olds followed in the footsteps of Divine Mukasa, Reigan Heskey, Jadon Heskey, James Trafford, Charlie Gray and Max Alleyne who have also made it onto the pitch this season.

For a first-team squad that is jam-packed with talent, to force your way into Guardiola’s thoughts is no mean feat and the boss only gives opportunities to get onto the pitch when they’re warranted.

With Phil Foden, O’Reilly and Lewis already firmly established, the Academy is proving to be one of the best around and it’s a reflection of the quality and determination of the young players coming through as well as the had-working staff helping them along the way.

LIJNDERS reaction

“From the first minute we showed with our high press and the way we went after them, we showed we respected them.

“The way the performance was, to get the ball back quickly, It was a good performance and I think for the fans and everyone for the amount of goals.

“When it was four or five we kept pushing. Overall it was a really good day for Manchester City.”

LEWIS reaction

“Obviously, it’s an amazing day for us. All the players are happy of course

“A lot of goals is good for the fans as well that have come to watch the game, to experience lots of goals and an exciting game.

“It can only do positive for our momentum going through into other competitions.

“I’m really happy [with my two goals]. It’s something I want to do more in the future, score goals and get assists, play higher up on the pitch.

“Days like today I took my chances and it puts me in good stead for the future.”

What it means

City go into the draw for the fourth round for the 15th successive season.

The draw will be made on Monday 12 January at Anfield ahead of the Liverpool v Barnsley tie and we will be ball number nine in the draw.

What’s next

We head up to Newcastle United for our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at St James’ Park on Tuesday 13 January.

The game – our fifth of nine this month – kicks off at 20:00 (UK) with the second leg three weeks later at the Etihad Stadium.

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