Antoine Semenyo produced two quickfire assists for Omar Marmoush as Manchester City came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 in their final pre-season friendly in Seoul.
The Spanish side took a surprise lead shortly before half-time when 16-year-old Jorge Dominguez reacted quickest to score from close range, despite Man City having controlled much of the opening period.
The response after the break was emphatic.
Semenyo-Marmoush connection
Semenyo created two goals in quick succession for Marmoush, who twice found himself in the right position to turn the Ghana international’s work into goals.
Rayan Ait-Nouri then added a third late on to complete the comeback.
Marmoush was quick to credit Semenyo for his contribution.
“As a striker, goals give you confidence and it gets you going in the flow,” Marmoush told CityTV, quoted on Sky Sports.
“Semenyo, without him, these goals wouldn’t have been possible. I just had to tap it in the net and I’d like to thank him.”
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Frustrating first half
The Egyptian also admitted he had been frustrated by his positioning in the first half, before making a conscious effort to attack the spaces created by his team-mates.
“The second half all that was in my head was just to make the runs and be there,” Marmoush added.
“They did their job and in the end we won. It was a really, really good feeling.”
Semenyo’s performance also underlined his growing importance to new head coach Enzo Maresca, who praised the forward and the collective effort of his squad.
Fantastic effort from the players
“The first thing I said to him [Semenyo] when I joined the club was ‘I’m very happy that now you’re with us!’ Antoine played well but the effort from all the players has been fantastic,” Maresca said.
The result continues an encouraging pre-season for Maresca, whose tactical ideas appear to be resonating with his players.
“I’m very happy because the players since I joined the club, they are open-minded, they want to know, they want to do new things,” Maresca added.
“We are trying to install new things on the ball and off the ball.”
Maresca and Man City’s attention now turns to competitive football, with the Community Shield against Arsenal on the horizon next on August 16.
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