Knocked out of the in August, could also be taking to the ultimate of it. And if that made little sense, the rule change that allowed gamers to symbolize two golf equipment within the competitors this season had irritated even earlier than ’s newest signing threated to finish Newcastle’s defence of their first main trophy because the Nineteen Sixties.
In earlier years, he would have been cup-tied. Not now. Semenyo’s half in Bournemouth’s summer season defeat to Brentford could also be no obstacle to claiming a winner’s medal. His first-leg strike, coupled with ’s 99th-minute second, means Metropolis can envisage a March date with Arsenal or Chelsea at Wembley. Newcastle want a turnaround on the Etihad subsequent month.
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They’re prone to face a stronger Metropolis group then. Metropolis had a £62.5m addition to their assault however a makeshift look to the again half of their group. They received anyway. But it surely helps to have the monetary muscle to signal a participant coveted by Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.
If a debut purpose in opposition to Exeter was scarcely proof Semenyo is value his sizeable charge, this was a much bigger indication Metropolis’s cash has been properly spent. This was a sign the most important signing of the winter window up to now is a big-game participant.
Not since Emmanuel Adebayor in 2009 had a participant scored in his first two video games for Metropolis, although Semenyo could not wish to emulate another parts of the Togolese’s time in Manchester. However this has been a flying begin.
The purpose was a reward for Pep Guardiola’s coverage of selecting out-and-out wingers. One scored a purpose, arrange by one other. accelerated previous Lewis Miley to cross, Bernardo Silva diverted it into the trail of Semenyo and he had a faucet in. He has had an on the spot impression with supporters, too. He already has a music that they chorused.
Antoine Semenyo despatched Man Metropolis forward with a advantageous end within the second half (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Semenyo’s second purpose was dominated out by a controversial VAR resolution (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
He additionally thought he had a 3rd purpose in his first two video games. Semenyo appeared to have a brace, courtesy of an improvised end, with an tried backheel, from Tijjani Reijnders’ nook. Following an interminable VAR test, Erling Haaland was adjudged offside.
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Metropolis as a substitute doubled their lead on the final, due to a mixture of summer season signings and Rayans. A one-two between Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri started with a beautiful flick from the No 10 and, after a low cross from the Algerian, ended with an adept end.
So Newcastle may rue missed alternatives; one a wild effort, two that got here agonisingly shut. Yoane Wissa sliced a fifth-minute shot over the bar, when Metropolis had been opened up by ’s cross. Wissa was most popular to Nick Woltemade, however Murphy, their most artistic participant within the first half, went off injured seconds earlier than the interval.
Yoane Wissa missed an important probability early within the first half (Getty Photos)
Jacob Murphy picked up a hamstring harm in Newcastle’s league cup conflict with Man Metropolis (Getty Photos)
Newcastle however had extra attacking intent after it. Earlier than Semenyo struck, they hit the woodwork twice inside seconds. First Anthony Gordon crossed, Wissa produced a looping header and James Trafford, eternally a Newcastle goal, tipped it on to the bar. Then Bruno Guimaraes thudded a shot from 20 yards in opposition to the put up.
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They exerted loads of effort of their seek for an equaliser, and Sven Botman had makes an attempt blocked by Trafford and Semenyo. Sandro Tonali got here off the bench to drill a shot extensive. They could really feel referee Chris Kavanagh was too lenient: Silva was maybe lucky solely to be booked for an accumulation of offences.
However Newcastle may remorse the dullness of the primary half. There had been a surfeit of drama at St James’ Park within the final week. The primary half was the antidote to the 4-3 and the 3-3, the frenzy of 13 targets. Metropolis belatedly mustered their first shot in stoppage time, and even afterwards Nick Pope’s first save was to spare Gordon an personal purpose, however Newcastle had the better have to win. They’ve received two semi-finals below Howe, however every with the second leg on Tyneside. Now they go to Manchester with a sizeable deficit.
Rayan Cherki struck a blow late in stoppage time as Man Metropolis received the sport 2-0 (REUTERS)
However the teamsheets urged they’d a chance, too. A few weeks in the past, it appeared the centre of the Metropolis defence could be manned by Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. As a substitute, it was Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov, the unlikely alliance.
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Forward of them, Nico O’Reilly needed to do his Rodri impression on the base of the midfield. With Nico Gonzalez injured, the opposite Nico was the third-choice defensive midfielder. Guardiola had appeared to prioritise the Manchester derby by benching Rodri, Reijnders and Cherki. However every appeared within the second half and Guardiola’s coverage of bringing on class was justified by Cherki’s purpose.
