History Repeats: Manchester City Replicate 1987 Scoreline with 10-1 Win

The Return of Rodri and a Debut for Semenyo

One of the most heartwarming moments of the afternoon was the return of Rodri to the scoresheet. Playing for the first time since May 2024 without injury worries, the midfielder smashed a shot into the net to make it 2-0.

New signing Antoine Semenyo also made an immediate impact. Making his debut just hours after signing for the club, Semenyo provided an assist and a clinical goal, slotting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 6-0.

Academy Stars Take Center Stage

Pep Guardiola used the fixture to blood new talent, and the academy players didn’t disappoint:

• Max Elaine: Scored his first professional goal to open the scoring after a scrappy goal-line scramble was confirmed by replays.
• Ryan Madu: The 17-year-old winger, making his debut, capped off a “dazzling” performance with a thumping strike from the edge of the area to make it nine.
• Nico O’Reilly: Continued his FA Cup scoring streak, heading in a cross for his fourth goal in the competition across two seasons.

The Magnificent Ten: Breaking Down the Goals

The scoring was relentless, with goals coming from every angle:

1. Max Elaine: Scrappy opener.
2. Rodri: Powerful strike from distance.
3. Own Goal: Resulting from a chaotic corner.
4. Own Goal: Tjani Reijnders forced the ball back across the line.
5. Rico Lewis: Arrived late to turn in a dangerous cross.
6. Antoine Semenyo: Debut goal through the legs.
7. Tjani Reijnders: A perfectly bent strike into the corner.
8. Nico O’Reilly: clinical header.
9. Ryan Madu: A professional debut goal to remember.
10. Final Goal: Secured the 10-1 scoreline, repeating the 1987 result against Huddersfield.

Exeter City did find a moment of joy for their traveling supporters when George Birch thumped a “sweet” shot into the roof of the net, denying James Trafford a clean sheet.