They beat Newcastle 2-0 within the League Cup
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for Manchester Metropolis. Photograph: AFP
NEWCASTLE:
Antoine Semenyo made himself an prompt Manchester Metropolis hero as Pep Guardiola’s males took an enormous stride in the direction of the League Cup remaining with a 2-0 win at Newcastle.
The Ghana worldwide, who joined from Bournemouth for £65 million ($87 million) final week, opened the scoring and likewise had a second objective controversially dominated out.
However Rayan Cherki delivered what may very well be the knockout blow to the holders within the 98th minute.
The Magpies ended a 70-year look ahead to a home trophy by profitable the League Cup final season, however will want a heroic fightback to achieve Wembley when the perimeters meet once more for the second leg of the semi-final on February 4.
Semenyo additionally scored on his debut on Saturday in a 10-1 demolition of Exeter within the FA Cup.
In earlier years he would have been cup-tied after that includes for Bournemouth earlier within the competitors.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe made clear his dissatisfaction earlier than the sport with a rule change this season that permits gamers to play for 2 golf equipment within the one marketing campaign and Metropolis took full benefit.
Guardiola confirmed his want to achieve the ultimate for the primary time since 2021 as Erling Haaland made a primary League Cup begin in three years in a robust Metropolis choice simply days earlier than they go to Manchester United within the Premier League.
Yoane Wissa blazed an excellent early probability over the bar as Newcastle roared out of the blocks in entrance of a packed St. James’ Park.
However that was the closest both facet got here in a cagey first half.
Metropolis goalkeeper James Trafford had been a long-term goal for Newcastle previous to his return to the Etihad from Burnley in July.
The England under-21 worldwide has needed to play second fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma for many of the season however proved his value with a shocking save to claw away Wissa’s looping header early within the second half.
Seconds later, Bruno Guimaraes blasted in opposition to the submit as Newcastle pressed for the opening.
However they had been caught with a sucker punch on the different finish when Jeremy Doku sped in the direction of the by-line and his cross was turned by Bernardo Silva into the trail of Semenyo to prod house from shut vary.
Semenyo thought he had a 3rd Metropolis objective in two appearances when he acrobatically flicked in from a nook.
Nonetheless, after a VAR evaluate lasting over 5 minutes, the officers lastly adjudged that Haaland had prevented Malick Thiaw’s means to play the ball from an offside place.
The vociferous house crowd celebrated the let-off like a objective however their facet failed to seek out the online regardless of a late flurry of probabilities for Nick Woltemade.
And Metropolis’s menace on the counter-attack was lastly realised when Cherki swept in Rayan Ait-Nouri’s low cross to safe a commanding first-leg lead.
