NEW Manchester City signing Antoine Semenyo scored his second goal in as many games as Pep Guardiola’s team moved within reach of the English League Cup final with a 2-0 win over Newcastle on Tuesday.
The forward, who joined City from Bournemouth for $87 million last week, struck the opening goal in the semifinal first leg at St James’ Park, with substitute Rayan Cherki scoring the second in time added on.
Semenyo also scored on his debut in the 10-1 rout of Exeter in the FA Cup over the weekend.
“The whole environment here is perfect,” he said. “Everyone is confident and wanting to achieve the best. I’ve just come into that, and they’ve helped me with my confidence, and they’ve made me feel welcome.”
It could have been even better for the Ghana international, who saw a brilliantly taken back-heeled goal ruled out for a marginal offside.
The 26-year-old Semenyo is already looking like a shrewd buy for City after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s top talents for Bournemouth. He scored 10 goals for the Cherries this season.
“He’s not just a very good player, but a very good guy, which helps, which fits into the team,” City captain Bernardo Silva told ITV Sport. “He’s a fantastic guy who wants to play collectively, wants to help, wants to have fun, and we are delighted with the way he’s started.”
Semenyo has added another dimension to City’s attack as Guardiola targets four trophies this term.
The League Cup could be the first of those, with City holding a two-goal advantage against holder Newcastle heading into next month’s second leg at its Etihad Stadium.
Semenyo converted from close range with a simple finish in the 53rd minute to put City ahead. He looked like he’d scored a far more spectacular second with a backheel volley — but after a lengthy VAR check, it was ruled out because Erling Haaland was in an offside position.
City had to wait until the eighth minute of added time to double the lead, with Cherki slipping a shot past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope from inside the box.
That goal has left Newcastle with a mountain to climb. It is to keep hold of the trophy it won last year to end a 70-year wait for major domestic silverware.
Eddie Howe’s team had its chances, with Yoane Wissa and Bruno Guimaraes both hitting the frame of the goal within seconds of each other in the second half.
City is an eight-time winner of the League Cup, with Guardiola lifting it on four occasions since taking over the club. City last won it in 2021.
City’s four-pronged trophy hunt this term follows last season when it finished empty-handed for the first time in eight years. AP
SANTA CLARA, California — The San Francisco 49ers are opening the practice window for star linebacker Fred Warner with the hope that he could return if the team reaches the NFC title game.
Warner has been out since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.
But Warner has been rehabbing since then and even was able to run on a side field last week during practice. Now he will be back officially at practice as the 49ers prepare to play Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) and could return if San Francisco wins.
“We’re not doing much, so he’ll walk through out there with us today and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week,” Shanahan said Tuesday.
Warner’s presence on the practice field even for a walkthrough provided an emotional lift for the 49ers.
Eric Kendricks is currently manning Warner’s spot at middle linebacker after backup Tatum Bethune got hurt but wasn’t ready to talk about what Warner’s possible return would do for the team.
The 49ers have made it this far despite losing their top two defensive players to injuries early in the season, with defensive end Nick Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and Warner getting hurt in Week 6.
Warner has been pushing to make a return and if he can, that would provide a needed boost. But Shanahan said the final decision will be in the hands of the team doctors.
