Semenyo scores on Man City debut in 10-goal rout of Exeter

Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku substitutes Antoine Semenyo during the FA Cup third round match between Manchetster City and Exeter City in Manchester, England Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
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Updated 10 January 2026
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Semenyo scores on Man City debut in 10-goal rout of Exeter

  • Semenyo netted in the second half of City’s ruthless display at the Etihad Stadium
  • He joined City from Bournemouth in an $87 million move on Friday

MANCHESTER: Antoine Semenyo scored on his Manchester City debut as the Ghana forward’s new side crushed Exeter 10-1 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Semenyo netted in the second half of City’s ruthless display at the Etihad Stadium and injury-plagued midfielder Rodri also scored for the first time since May 2024.
Semenyo joined City from Bournemouth in a £65 million ($87 million) move on Friday and wasted no time making an impact with Pep Guardiola’s team.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham were among the other clubs interested in Semenyo, who had a buyout clause that would reportedly expire on Saturday.
Teenage defender Max Alleyne began the rout, prodding home from close-range for his first City goal in the 12th minute.
Rodri finally got back on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, lashing in from distance after Semenyo’s shot was blocked.
Own goals from Exeter duo Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater in the 42nd minute and the 45th minute put the result beyond doubt.
But City kept pressing and Lewis volleyed in from Semenyo’s 49th minute.
Semenyo’s debut goal came five minutes later with a clinical finish.
Tijjani Reijnders curled in a seventh from the edge of the area in the 71st minute and Nico O’Reilly added the eighth with a fine header from a Lewis cross.
Ryan McAidoo, 17, hit the ninth from just outside the area in the 86th minute before George Birch blasted into the top corner to give Exeter at least one moment to savour.
City were not done and Lewis lashed home in stoppage-time to make it a perfect 10.
It was City’s biggest win since beating Huddersfield by the same scoreline in 1987.
They also defeated Burton by nine goals in a 9-0 victory in 2019.
Guardiola may not have been on the touchline as he served a one-match ban but it was clear from the team-sheet he meant business.
The City boss made six changes but still fielded a strong side including Erling Haaland.
He was rewarded with City’s first win in four games in all competitions after three successive Premier League draws left them trailing six points behind leaders Arsenal.


Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots

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Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots

  • The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize
SANTA CLARA: The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize.
Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and some 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Darnold.
The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display, and kicker Jason Myers’ five field goals — the most ever by one player in a Super Bowl.
But it was a night to forget for Darnold’s counterpart Drake Maye, who was sacked six times and threw two interceptions, failing in his bid to become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl at 23.
Bad Bunny performed the half-time show, singing entirely in Spanish in a Super Bowl first.
One of the world’s biggest artists, Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s brutal and divisive immigration crackdown.
His vibrant show, featuring cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, largely avoided politics.
That did not stop Trump — who did not attend — taking to social media to dub it an “affront” to the United States, claiming that no one could understand the performance.
’Evil Empire’
An initially cagey game featured no touchdowns for either side in the first three quarters, with the Patriots stifled and the Seahawks largely playing it safe, relying on Kenneth Walker.
The running back managed 135 rushing yards across the night, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“We went through a lot of adversity this year, but we came together and stuck together and this is what we got,” said Walker, after the game.
Super Bowl LX sprang to life in the final quarter, with four touchdowns.
Darnold led things off with his endzone pass to A.J. Barner, before the hitherto scoreless Patriots hit back with Maye finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown.
Seattle compounded the misery with yet another Maye sack resulting in a turnover and a career-first touchdown for linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, before the Patriots managed another consolation visit to the end zone.
It all meant Seattle avenged its loss to the Patriots in the Seahawks’ previous Super Bowl appearance, back in 2015.
For the Patriots, a franchise once so dominant they were dubbed the “Evil Empire,” it was a disappointing night to end a season in which they had been reborn under coach of the year Mike Vrabel.
The storied franchise could not secure a record seventh Super Bowl, and their first since the departure of Tom Brady.
Porous Patriots
More than 120 million Americans were expected to watch the biggest event in US sports, which took place at the 75,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Seahawks boasted a vocal majority of fans from the kickoff, and their early nerves were settled with a field goal from the game’s very first drive.
New England’s porous offensive line was continually overwhelmed, the team pinned deep in its own territory, as Seattle added two more field goals for a 9-0 lead at the break.
Bad Bunny’s half-time performance came as a welcome respite for New England, with Internet memes quickly joking that the superstar had “gained more yards than the Patriots” as he strutted through his colorful set.
The Seahawks picked up where they left off, with Walker’s legs powering Seattle up the field for Myers to extend the lead.
Seattle finally managed the game’s first touchdown. Darnold’s 16-yard pass found tight end Barner in the deep right corner of the endzone.
With the night threatening to turn into farce, a topless streaker evaded security efforts.
This time the break in play briefly sparked New England to life. Maye found Hollins with a stunning 35-yard sling for a touchdown and the Patriots’ first points, narrowing the game to 19-7.
But it proved in vain, as Nwosu sealed the win before Rhamondre Stevenson ran in a late consolation touchdown.
It was sweet vindication for the humble Darnold, once a highly drafted youth who played for four NFL franchises before his stunning debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate victory.
“So proud of my guys. I can’t say enough great things about our defense and special teams,” said Darnold.
“I know we won the Super Bowl. We could have been a little bit better on offense but I don’t care about that right now. An unbelievable feeling.”