Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki both scored as Manchester City took control of their Carabao Cup semi-final against holders Newcastle United.
2025/2026 League Cup
0-2
Match Report
The Ghanaian, who also scored on his debut in the FA Cup against Exeter City, also had a second chalked off, but Rayan Cherki struck late to give the holders a mountain to climb.
It was a first half of very few chances, though Yoane Wissa arguably should have given Newcastle a fifth-minute lead, but he blazed over while one-on-one with James Trafford.
Just five minutes into the second half, Wissa tested Trafford again, with his looping header tipped onto the bar before Bruno Guimaraes curled a low strike against the left post.
And just three minutes later, City were in front as Semenyo raced through a crowded box to fire in from close range after meeting Jeremy Doku's deflected cross.
Semenyo was then denied a second 10 minutes later, having flicked a lovely backheel past Nick Pope from Tijjani Reijnders' corner, but Erling Haaland was deemed to be interfering with Malick Thiaw from an offside position, and it was ruled out following a VAR review.
Sven Botman had a header cleared off the line, Sandro Tonali flashed a shot wide, and Nick Woltemade missed a diving header as Newcastle pushed for an equaliser.
But instead, 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 lovely one-two with the returning Rayan Ait-Nouri.
We take a lead into the second leg
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 13, 2026
0-2 @okx pic.twitter.com/uWmmQ48dFF
Data Debrief: Semenyo takes no settling-in time
Semenyo announced himself in City's team at the weekend, but he once again played a key role for Pep Guardiola's side.
Indeed, he is the first player to score in both of his first two appearances for City in all competitions since Emmanuel Adebayor in August 2009.
And only Haaland (26) and Igor Thiago (17) have scored more goals among Premier League players in all competitions this season since the Club World Cup than Semenyo (12).
Newcastle more than matched their opponents, having 10 shots to the visitors' 11, with the Citizens having four on target to their three. The Magpies also hit the woodwork twice and accumulated just 0.64 expected goals (xG), though, with City generating 2.01.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Highlight from Newcastle vs Man City
15' Match Event for Newcastle vs Man City
18' Match Event for Newcastle vs Man City
25' Highlight from Newcastle vs Man City
31' There's a coming together between Joelinton and O'Reilly who are both booked
33' Match Event for Newcastle vs Man City
37' Late challenge by Nunes that takes out Gordon on the wing and that's a booking
45' Murphy cannot continue as Harvey Barnes is on
51' CLOSE! Trafford pushes Wissa's effort onto the bar before Guimarães hits post
53' GOAL! Semenyo opens scoring from great set up of Doku! Newcastle 0-1 Man City
67' Semenyo scores but it's ruled out as Haaland is offside
70' Tonali is on and he has immediate impact as he drives a shot just wide
75' Bruno Guimarães is booked for a foul on Jeremy Doku
77' Doku is replaced by Cherki
81' Match Event for Newcastle vs Man City
83' Match Event for Newcastle vs Man City
90' Tonali is penalised for a push on Bernardo Silva
93' Highlight from Newcastle vs Man City
Line-ups
Newcastle XI: Pope, Yoane Wissa, J.Murphy, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Gordon, Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley
Subs: Trippier, Ramsdale, Barnes, Willock, Tonali, Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave
Man City XI: Ake, Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Foden, Antoine Semenyo, Matheus Nunes, James Trafford, Doku, Nico O'Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne
Subs: Donnarumma, Rodri, Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Cherki, Lewis, Charlie Gray, Divine Mukasa, Ryan McAidoo