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'I've done it in training' - Antoine Semenyo on wonder goal in FA Cup final

OW

Owuraku Ampofo

Published 1 month ago

The Ghana forward produced a moment of pure instinct to settle the FA Cup final against Chelsea, becoming the first Ghanaian to score in the showpiece and shattering a 30-year goal-scoring record in the process.

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/semenyo-antoine/r1Gz1yPk/"]Antoine Semenyo[/a] produced a moment of magic to score the winner against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a] beat Chelsea 1-0 in a tightly contested final, with Semenyo's solitary strike the difference between the two sides.[/p][p]With the final delicately poised and both sides searching for the breakthrough, Semenyo found himself receiving the ball in a tight situation with his back to goal, defenders close, angles minimal.[/p][embed guid="b131f7db-fce6-41c0-9c9c-caa39c15d703" url="https://x.com/EmiratesFACup/status/2055674195875430789?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]With no time to turn and no obvious option available, the Ghana international improvised, cushioning a finish into the bottom corner with the kind of technique that makes the watching world collectively catch its breath.[/p][p]The goal proved historic as Semenyo became the first Ghanaian footballer to score in an FA Cup final.[/p][p]The personal milestone didn't not stop there either. The goal was Semenyo's 20th of the season across all competitions, a return that shatters the record for the most goals scored by a Ghanaian player in a single campaign.[/p][embed guid="0f384030-a3c0-4d02-affa-2785308bf957" url="https://x.com/OptaJoe/status/2055686558250926400?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]That record had stood for three decades, held by the great Tony Yeboah, who scored 19 goals for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Leeds United[/a] in the 1995/96 season. [/p][p]Speaking at Wembley in the immediate aftermath, Semenyo was characteristically direct about how the goal came about and honest enough to admit that improvisation was the only option.[/p][p][b]"I just tried to improvise the best I could and it went in the bottom corner so I can't complain.[/b][/p][p]"I've done it a couple of times in training. It was behind me so that's the only thing I could do and luckily for me it went in," he added[/p][p]On the broader story of his season it's been a remarkable tale of two clubs. 10 goals in the first half of the season at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a], 10 more since joining Manchester City in January. The Ghanaian remains humble.[/p][embed guid="79e5a1ab-cfd4-4d1c-bdc8-892a6fbe3bf2" url="https://x.com/_owurakuampofo/status/2055680337322152438?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It's been hardwork. I am learning a lot with a lot of top pros around me and a top coach. Long may it continue."[/b][/p][p]The FA Cup victory is the 20th trophy of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guardiola-pep/hxNijWrJ/"]Pep Guardiola[/a]'s extraordinary tenure at Manchester City. For Semenyo, it is his second major trophy in six months since joining City after also winning the Carabao Cup. The forward is well aware of the role Guardiola has played in that transformation.[/p][p][b]"He's a madman. We all love him. He's so passionate and wants to win trophies. What he's done for the club is amazing. I'm grateful he gets to coach me and make me a better player."[/b][/p][p]The celebrations at Wembley will be brief. City's attention now turns to midweek, with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bournemouth-OtpNdwrc/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=rkXMW40U"]Premier League fixture[/a] against Bournemouth, as they seek a domestic treble.[/p][image alt="Owuraku Ampofo" id="345f5fd0-6a26-4f45-8078-6462582c5da7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8efcd3da-d620-459f-a34f-d9d84f15dc39" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]

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