Antoine Semenyo delivered an impressive cameo appearance for Manchester City during their 2-0 victory over Salford City in the English FA Cup fourth round tie.
The 26-year-old Ghanaian forward, who joined the club from Bournemouth in the January transfer window for a substantial fee, was introduced as a substitute in the 65th minute, replacing Phil Foden as Pep Guardiola sought to inject fresh energy into a largely underwhelming performance against the stubborn League Two opponents.
Coming on when the game remained tightly contested—with Manchester City holding a slender lead from an early own goal by Salford’s Alfie Dorrington—Semenyo quickly made his presence felt and transformed the attacking dynamic.
He showed immediate intent and directness, forcing Salford’s defense onto the back foot and creating a noticeable uptick in fluency and threat from the hosts. In his limited time on the pitch, the winger registered two shots, one of which rattled the woodwork as he came agonizingly close to adding to the scoreline and capping his impact with a goal.
Ultimately, Manchester City’s second goal arrived in the 81st minute through fellow substitute Marc Guéhi, sealing progression to the fifth round in a match that had threatened an upset until the changes from the bench turned the tide.
Semenyo’s lively contribution highlighted his rapid adaptation to life at the Etihad, building on his strong early form since the transfer, where he has already emerged as a key attacking outlet with goals and assists in limited appearances.
His performance against Salford underscored why City pursued him so aggressively and why he has drawn praise for showing up established teammates in a game that needed his spark.