Manchester City edge Sunderland 3-2 in thrilling first-half at the Etihad

Manchester City scored three goals against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with the halftime scoreline of 3-2 reflecting a first half of end-to-end attacking football. Antoine Semenyo, City’s January signing from Bournemouth, was the standout performer, contributing goals and assists in a first half that showcased exactly why Enzo Maresca’s side sits atop the Premier League table with an unbeaten record through five matches of the 2026/27 season.

A half of football Sunderland will want to forget

City wasted no time establishing control. Enzo Fernández opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a free kick, bending the ball past a Sunderland wall. Sunderland, to their credit, initially refused to roll over. Brian Brobbey pulled one back in the 12th minute, briefly leveling the contest.

Rayan Cherki restored City’s lead in the 29th minute, finishing off a move created by Semenyo’s assist. Brobbey struck again in the 33rd minute, dragging Sunderland back to 2-2. Semenyo then put City ahead for good in the 43rd minute, leaving the halftime score at 3-2 to the hosts.

Semenyo proving worth every penny of his price tag

When Manchester City signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in January 2026 for a fee estimated between £62.5 million and £65 million, some questioned whether the Ghanaian international could make the leap from a mid-table side to title contenders. His performance against Sunderland, contributing both goals and assists, was his most complete display in a City shirt so far.

The manager made ten changes from City’s previous Carabao Cup fixture ahead of the Sunderland match. Names like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rúben Dias, and Joško Gvardiol provide a defensive foundation that allows Maresca to be aggressive with his lineup decisions without sacrificing structural integrity.

Sunderland’s growing pains on full display

For Sunderland, the scoreline tells a familiar story about the gulf between newly promoted sides and the league’s elite. Currently occupying a mid-table position after earning promotion, the Black Cats have found consistency elusive in the early weeks of the campaign. Brobbey’s two goals in the 12th and 33rd minutes offered a silver lining, demonstrating that Sunderland possess individual talent capable of competing at this level.