Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City: Semenyo stars as visitors take EFL Cup semi-final advantage

Antoine Semenyo made it two targets in two video games to start out his Manchester Metropolis profession, serving to his new staff take a 2-0 benefit over Newcastle United of their EFL Cup semi-final first leg.

The Ghanaian, who additionally scored on his debut within the FA Cup towards Exeter Metropolis, additionally had a second chalked off, however Rayan Cherki struck late to provide the holders a mountain to climb.

It was a primary half of only a few possibilities, although Yoane Wissa arguably ought to have given Newcastle a fifth-minute lead, however he blazed over whereas one-on-one with James Trafford.

Simply 5 minutes into the second half, Wissa examined Trafford once more, together with his looping header tipped onto the bar earlier than Bruno Guimaraes curled a low strike towards the left put up.

And simply three minutes later, Metropolis have been in entrance as Semenyo raced by a crowded field to fireside in from shut vary after assembly Jeremy Doku’s deflected cross.

Semenyo was then denied a second 10 minutes later, having flicked a beautiful backheel previous Nick Pope from Tijjani Reijnders’ nook, however Erling Haaland was deemed to be interfering with Malick Thiaw from an offside place, and it was dominated out following a VAR assessment.

Sven Botman had a header cleared off the road, Sandro Tonali flashed a shot large, and Nick Woltemade missed a diving header as Newcastle pushed for an equaliser.

However as a substitute, they go into the second leg at Etihad Stadium on February 4 with a two-goal deficit to overturn after Cherki slotted in a second after a beautiful one-two with the returning Rayan Ait-Nouri.

We take a lead into the second leg

0-2 @okx pic.twitter.com/uWmmQ48dFF

— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) January 13, 2026

Knowledge Debrief: Semenyo takes no settling-in time

Semenyo introduced himself in Metropolis’s staff on the weekend, however he as soon as once more performed a key position for Pep Guardiola’s aspect.

Certainly, he’s the primary participant to attain in each of his first two appearances for Metropolis in all competitions since Emmanuel Adebayor in August 2009.

And solely Haaland (26) and Igor Thiago (17) have scored extra targets amongst Premier League gamers in all competitions this season for the reason that Membership World Cup than Semenyo (12).

Newcastle greater than matched their opponents, having 10 photographs to the guests’ 11, with the Residents having 4 on the right track to their three. The Magpies additionally hit the woodwork twice and accrued simply 0.64 anticipated targets (xG), although, with Metropolis producing 2.01.