Antoine Semenyo scored in Manchester City’s final game under Pep Guardiola, although the Premier League champions suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the last day of the season.
The Ghana international opened the scoring early in the match with a close-range volley after a corner kick was flicked into his path, giving Manchester City a dream start in Guardiola’s farewell encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
Semenyo’s goal capped an outstanding campaign for the forward, who finished the season with 21 goals in all competitions. Eleven of those goals came after his January move from Bournemouth to Manchester City.
The 26-year-old had previously spoken about his admiration for Guardiola and indicated that the opportunity to work with the Spanish tactician played a major role in his decision to join the club.
The match also marked Guardiola’s 593rd and final game in charge of Manchester City after a highly successful spell that produced 20 major trophies during his time at the club.
Despite City’s bright start, Aston Villa fought back strongly in the second half. Ollie Watkins equalised shortly after the break before scoring again in the 60th minute to hand the visitors victory.
Although Manchester City ended Guardiola’s reign with defeat, Semenyo’s strike ensured the Ghanaian forward remained one of the standout figures on a historic afternoon, becoming the final player to score for the club during Guardiola’s era.
The Black Stars forward is now expected to shift his focus to Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign following the best scoring season of his career.
