Semenyo’s double at the City ground, 17-year-old memories return

Manchester City’s new signing, Antony Semenyo, has hit the ground running, rekindling memories that stretch back nearly 17 years. Last week, the Ghanaian forward completed a £6.5 million transfer from Bournemouth and immediately made his mark by scoring on his City debut.

Semenyo opened his goal account in City colours during the FA Cup, contributing to an emphatic 10–1 victory over Exeter on Saturday. Demonstrating remarkable consistency, he found the net once again in his second consecutive match, netting the opener in City’s 2–0 win against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.

This early scoring form mirrors a feat last achieved at City in August 2009, when Emmanuel Adebayor scored in his first two appearances for the club. In doing so, Semenyo has not only continued his strong start but also revived a near two-decade-old record.

While he scored another goal against Newcastle, it was controversially disallowed following an extensive VAR review, a decision that has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike.

Despite the VAR disappointment, Semenyo remains confident and focused on cementing his place in the City squad. Speaking after the match, he expressed his admiration for the team’s environment:

“The atmosphere here is incredible. Everyone is confident and striving for the best. I’ve come into an environment where I feel supported, and the team has welcomed me fully. It gives me confidence to perform at my best.”

City captain Bernardo Silva also expressed frustration at the disallowed goal, noting the team felt the match should have ended 3–0. He remarked:

“It’s disappointing. We’ve grown accustomed to such decisions going against us, even in games at our own stadium. But we’ll remain focused for the return leg.”

Looking ahead, City will host Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on 4 February for the second leg, with a place in the League Cup final hanging in the balance.

For clarity, here’s a quick overview of Semenyo’s early City performances:

Semenyo’s immediate impact has energised City fans, suggesting that the Ghanaian forward could become a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s side this season.