In football, the term ‘perfect ten’ is usually reserved for a star player donning the number ten jersey. Yet, on 10 January, Manchester City redefined the phrase quite literally, producing a match scoreline that mirrored the calendar itself. On that day, City netted ten goals against Exeter City in the FA Cup third round, with the final score finishing 10–1.
The fixture, hosted at the iconic Etihad Stadium, saw a relentless City side overwhelm Exeter, who managed a solitary consolation goal amidst the onslaught. The numerical symmetry was striking: the match took place on the 10th day of the month, and City’s ten-goal tally perfectly matched the date, creating a rare and memorable alignment between calendar and scoreboard.
Seven different City players contributed to the scoring, while prolific striker Erling Haaland was absent. Rico Lewis stood out with a brace, scoring in the 49th and 91st minutes. Two additional goals were courtesy of Exeter’s own defensive errors, while the remaining six goals were shared among Max Ailina, Rodri, Antony Semenyo, Tyrese Reine-Adams, Nico O’Reilly, and Ryan McAidoo.
Rodri marked his first goal for City since May 2024, while 26-year-old Semenyo’s achievement was particularly remarkable: having joined from Bournemouth the previous day, he scored within 24 hours of his debut and also registered an assist. This feat echoes Sergio Agüero’s debut in 2011 against Swansea, when he scored and assisted on his first appearance—a similar milestone achieved by Semenyo 14 years later.
Goal Scorers: Manchester City vs Exeter City
| Scorer | Minute(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Max Ailina | 1 | Season opener contribution |
| Rodri | 15 | First goal since May 2024 |
| Antony Semenyo | 67 | Debut goal + assist, joined from Bournemouth |
| Tyrese Reine-Adams | 73 | |
| Nico O’Reilly | 82 | |
| Ryan McAidoo | 88 | |
| Rico Lewis | 49, 91 | Two goals |
| Exeter own goals | 22, 78 | Defensive errors |
City’s ten-goal haul also marked a historic milestone. No top-tier English club had managed ten goals in a competitive fixture since Liverpool defeated Fulham 10–0 in the 1986 League Cup—almost four decades ago. While football has seen larger victories, such as Tottenham’s 13–2 demolition of Crewe in 1960, few results combine sheer dominance with such calendar-perfect symbolism.
For fans and historians alike, remembering this match is effortless. Whenever the 2025–26 FA Cup third-round fixtures are revisited, one needn’t consult the calendar—the scoreline alone tells the story: 10 January, 10–1, a day where Manchester City’s offensive firepower made football history.
