Antoine Semenyo marked his Manchester City debut with a goal as Pep Guardiola’s side ran riot in a staggering 10-1 demolition of Exeter City in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium.
City were ruthless from start to finish, with Rodri ending a 20-month goal drought and Rico Lewis scoring twice as the Premier League champions overwhelmed their League One opponents.
Max Alleyne opened the floodgates with his first senior goal, while there were also two Exeter own goals in a first-half collapse.
Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly and 17-year-old Ryan McAidoo later added their names to the scoresheet.
Exeter’s only highlight came late on when George Birch produced a stunning consolation strike, but it did little to soften a bruising afternoon for the visitors.
After three consecutive Premier League draws and with a Carabao Cup semi-final looming, City could not have asked for a more comfortable outing.
The victory matched their biggest-ever win, last achieved against Huddersfield in 1987, while also surpassing their 9-0 FA Cup thrashing of Burton in 2019.
Although Guardiola was absent from the touchline due to a one-match ban, his intent was clear from the selection.
Despite making six changes, City named a strong side that included Semenyo, handed his debut following a £62.5m move from Bournemouth—along with Rodri and Erling Haaland.
Youth was limited to McAidoo’s first appearance and Alleyne keeping his place from midweek.
Exeter threatened briefly at the start when Liam Oakes rose highest at a corner, forcing James Trafford into an early save, but that was as close as they came to an upset.
City took the lead in the 12th minute after Exeter failed to clear their lines, allowing Alleyne, recently on loan at Watford, to poke the ball home.
Twelve minutes later, Rodri unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike after Semenyo’s effort was blocked, netting his first goal since May 2024 in a significant moment of his comeback from long-term injury.
The first half ended with further misery for Exeter as two quick goals were credited as own goals amid confusion over final touches involving Jack Fitzwater and Jake Doyle-Hayes. Regardless, City were firmly in control by the interval.
The second half followed the same pattern. Lewis volleyed in from a Semenyo cross to make it 5-0 before the Ghana international scored himself, latching onto a long pass and calmly beating Joe Whitworth.
Reijnders curled home City’s seventh from distance, O’Reilly headed in an eighth from another Lewis delivery, and McAidoo struck the ninth from the edge of the area.
Birch’s spectacular late effort briefly lifted Exeter spirits, but City had the final word as Lewis smashed in his second goal in stoppage time to complete the rout.
