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THURSDAY | JAN 15, 2026

Malaysian Paper

Flying start

Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo (centre) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during yesterday’s Carabao Cup semifinal first leg match against Newcastle at St. James’ Park. – AFPPIC

Semenyo on target again as Man City beat Newcastle in Carabao Cup semifinal

M ANCHESTER CITY’S Antoine Semenyo made it two goals from two games for his new club and Rayan Cherki struck in stoppage time as Pep Guardiola’s side beat holders Newcastle United 2-0 away in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal yesterday. Semenyo, who joined in a £65 million (RM377m) deal from Bournemouth this month, got on the end of Jeremy Doku’s cross in the 53rd minute to score from close range. It could have been even better for Semenyo who thought he had put City 2-0 ahead later on but his neat finish was ruled out for a subjective offside decision

crowd fully into the match.” City grew in stature and after surviving a couple of scares at the start of the second half they took control. Semenyo showed a goal sniffer’s instinct to get on the end of Doku’s cross after it was flicked on by Bernardo Silva. The Ghanaian was celebrating again when he found the net by flicking in a corner but after nearly six minutes of VAR checks and a pitch side check, the goal was disallowed because Erling Haaland was deemed to be interfering with play and in a fractionally offside position. “Four officials and VAR were not able to take the decision, they had to go to the referee,” Guardiola said. “We know how it works and that will make us stronger.” Asked if he had received an explanation for the decision, Guardiola replied: “It’s a good question. “I say now I’d like to know why VAR in the 60th minute of the Premier League game against Newcastle – that we lost 2-1 – it was 0-0 and it was a penalty for (Fabian) Schar on Phil Foden, not even (giving it any) consideration. “In the 20th minute there is an unbelievable penalty for the shot for Jeremy Doku off the hand, and not even VAR. “Today, four people were not able to decide because the line was, I don’t know, but the sec ond goal Newcastle scored the line was perfect. “I’m not suspicious of that in 10 years. I didn’t say anything when we lost 2-1 here. I didn’t say anything in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, it is a red card after 30 or 40 min utes for (Dean) Henderson. “Okay, it’s fine, but the fact we didn’t say… I’m pretty sure Howard Webb (technical direc tor for Professional Game Match Officials) is going to call me tomorrow to take explanations for that.” It was at the end of nine minutes of stoppage time, most of it added on for the VAR decision, that Cherki slotted in from a low cut-back from the left by Rayan Ait Nouri to put City on course for their first final in the competition since 2021. – Reuters/The Independent

Yoane Wissa effort against the crossbar and Bruno Guimaraes fired a low shot against the woodwork immediately after. Eddie Howe’s side claimed Newcastle’s first domestic silverware since 1955 last season when they beat Liverpool at Wembley in March but they now face an uphill battle to reach a sec ond successive final. Semenyo opened his City account in the 10 1 hammering of Exeter City in the FA Cup on Saturday and is the first City player to score in his first two appearances for the club in all com petitions since Emmanuel Adebayor in 2009. “The whole environment here is perfect. Everyone is confident and wanting achieve the best,” Semenyo, who also scored in his farewell game for Bournemouth last week, said. “I am picking things up

after a lengthy VAR check. City gave themselves a cushion for the second leg on Feb 4 as Cherki swept in a low shot to stun the home fans. Newcastle’s best chances came just after the break when Man City keeper James Trafford did

very quickly and enjoying it. I am just taking the confidence I had from Bournemouth here and playing with a smile on my face. I am enjoying every moment.” Howe was disappointed with the rule change that meant Semenyo was eligi ble to play in the competi tion despite also featuring for Bournemouth in the second round in August and his fears were justi fied as the winger tor mented his side. Things might have been different for Newcastle had Wissa not blazed an early chance over the cross bar. “Looking back with hindsight, you’d say that’s potentially a big turning point,” Howe said of the chance. “We wanted to get the

superbly to push a

Newcastle ’s Sandro Tonali (back) battles City’s Bernardo Silva for the ball yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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