Man City 10-1 Exeter produced one of the most one-sided FA Cup ties in modern memory as they dismantled their opponents at the Etihad Stadium, a performance defined by control, depth and a debut to remember for Antoine Semenyo.
The January signing made an immediate impact, delivering both a goal and an assist to place his name alongside a familiar City great and underline the Sky Blues’ strength across the pitch.
Pep Guardiola’s side were ruthless from the opening exchanges, mixing senior stars with emerging talent and never loosening their grip on the contest.
By the time the final whistle sounded, City had reached a statistical milestone rarely seen in English football, while several individuals enjoyed landmark moments of their own.
Semenyo shines in Man City 10-1 Exeter result
There was little sense of caution from Guardiola when he named his team. Semenyo, signed from Bournemouth just a day earlier, was handed a full debut in an attacking line-up that also featured Rodri and Rayan Cherki.
The message was clear: City intended to set the tempo early and leave no room for doubt.
They did exactly that. City were four goals to the good by half-time, having barely allowed Exeter a touch in dangerous areas.
Max Alleyne opened the scoring with his first senior goal for the club, setting the tone for an afternoon that blended youth and experience.
Rodri followed with a thunderous effort from distance, his first goal in 20 months, before Exeter’s resistance was further eroded by two unfortunate own goals as City’s pressure mounted.
Semenyo’s influence became more visible after the break. Four minutes into the second half, he delivered a teasing cross that Rico Lewis converted from close range to make it five.
It was a moment that highlighted the newcomer’s directness and composure, qualities that would soon bring a goal of his own.
Five minutes later, the 26-year-old found himself on the scoresheet. Cherki threaded a perfectly weighted pass down the left, allowing Semenyo to surge into the penalty area.
His finish was calm and precise, rolled beyond the goalkeeper before he peeled away to celebrate a debut goal that felt almost inevitable given his performance.
City’s relentlessness did not stop there. Seventeen-year-old Ryan McAidoo marked his debut with a goal, while Tijjani Reijnders and Nico O’Reilly also joined the scoresheet as Exeter struggled to stem the tide.
George Birch grabbed a late consolation for the visitors in the 90th minute, but even that was followed by further City celebration as Lewis struck again in stoppage time to complete the scoring at 10-1.
The scale of the victory placed it firmly in the history books. City became the first English top-flight side to score 10 or more goals in any competition since Liverpool defeated Fulham 10-0 in the League Cup in 1986.
In FA Cup terms, it was an even rarer feat, with the last such scoreline involving a top-flight team coming in 1960 when Tottenham Hotspur beat Crewe Alexandra 13-2.
For Exeter, it was a harsh lesson against elite opposition, but for City it was a demonstration of depth and sharpness at a crucial stage of the season.
Guardiola’s rotation policy did little to blunt their edge, and the ease with which they moved through the gears suggested a squad comfortable with the demands of multiple competitions.
Records fall and focus turns to busy schedule
While the result of Man City 10-1 Exeter itself was remarkable, Semenyo’s individual achievement carried its own significance.
By registering both a goal and an assist on his City debut, the club’s new No.42 matched a feat last achieved by the club’s all-time leading scorer, Sergio Aguero, against Swansea City in August 2011.
It was a striking comparison and one that underlined just how seamless the forward’s introduction had been.
Named Man of the Match, Semenyo cut a relaxed figure throughout, blending quickly with teammates and showing an understanding of Guardiola’s system that belied his brief time at the club.
His movement stretched Exeter’s back line, while his willingness to track back and link play hinted at why City moved swiftly to secure his signature.
City’s reward for their progress is a place in the FA Cup fourth round, where they will be ball number nine in the draw scheduled for Monday, ahead of Liverpool’s home tie with Barnsley.
It is another step in a competition Guardiola has learned to respect, even as league and European commitments continue to demand attention.
Those demands come thick and fast. City now shift focus to Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg away to Newcastle United at St James’ Park, a fixture that promises a sterner test of their credentials.
That will be followed swiftly by the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on January 17, a Premier League encounter loaded with significance regardless of form.
