Manchester City 5-1 Fulham: Erling Haaland fires second-half hat-trick as Citizens remain perfect with convincing win
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 02/09/2023 at 16:52 GMT
Manchester City remain perfect in the Premier League following a 5-1 victory over Fulham as Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick. Julian Alvarez gave the hosts the lead on 30 minutes but Tim Ream responded for The Cottagers almost immediately. Nathan Ake restored City's advantage on the stroke of half-time with a goal that was allowed to stand following a VAR check, before Haaland took control.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with teammates Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden after scoring the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham FC at Etihad Stadium.
Image credit: Getty Images
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City kept their perfect Premier League record with a 5-1 win over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.
The Cottagers stifled their illustrious hosts with a stubborn first 30 minutes where neither side managed so much as a shot, and a scrappy battle for midfield frustrated fans.
But City needed just one effort to take the lead, and Haaland's square ball found Julian Alvarez at the back post, the Argentine could hardly miss from six yards and an empty net.
So often, City take the lead and steamroll their opponents, but Fulham bounced right back as Ederson spilled Raul Jimenez's volleyed effort, gifting Tim Ream with an open goal just one yard out.
The visitors were level, but not for long, as Nathan Ake squeezed a rifled effort past Bernd Leno on the stroke of half time for 2-1, landing a suckerpunch on Marco Silva's men who deserved to be level.
Fulham started strongly in the second half but City are a force to be reckoned with and extended their lead inside the hour as Haaland grabbed his first goal, passing into the net after a brilliant ball from Alvarez.
And Haaland put the game to bed 10 minutes later with a thunderous penalty, awarded after Alvarez was dragged down in the box by Issa Diop.
The Norwegian machine then completed his hat-trick deep in stoppage time with a clinical, rifled effort from the penalty spot.
City, far from their best, and without Pep Guardiola on the touchline, grabbed all three points without breaking so much of a sweat against an impressive Fulham team. An ominous message to anyone in the league who hopes to challenge them this season.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ERLING HAALAND
Erling Haaland is unstoppable. He turned provider for a crucial opener, before putting the game to bed with a precise finish, a lethal penalty, and a brilliant rifled effort from 12 yards. At the same time, it felt like he was barely involved in the game. How does he do it?
TALKING POINT - ARE CITY INVINCIBLE?
Manchester City are four wins from four and, while they were so far from their best, they still beat an impressive and spirited Fulham side 5-1.
Can anyone stop them? It's early days, but beating this City team is just so, so difficult.
This City side could sit alongside Arsenal's invincibles at the end of the season. There's a long, long way to go, but they're just that good, even when they're not.
PLAYER RATINGS
Man City: Ederson, 5, Ake 7, Akanji 5, Dias 6, Walker 7, Kovacic 6, Rodri 6, Foden 7, Doku 6, Alvarez 7, Haaland 9. Subs. Gomez 5, Silva 4, Phillips 5, Bobb n/a, Lewis n/a.
Fulham: Leno 6, Tete 5, Diop 6, Ream 7, Robinson 5,Cairney n/a, Reed 5, Pereira 7, Wilson 6, De Cordova-Reid 6, Jimenez 7. Subs. Harris 6, Subs. Castagne 5, Willian 4, Muniz 5, Traore 5.
KEY MOMENTS
30' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1 FULHAM 0 (Alvarez). CITY BREAK THE DEADLOCK! It's the first shot we've seen in 30 minutes...but it's a goal all the same! Haaland tees up the Argentina international inside the box and Alvarez absolutely lashes home!
33' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1 FULHAM 1 (Ream). FULHAM STRIKE BACK. Straight from kick-off, Fulham win a corner. Pereira swings in a rapid one and Jimenez rifles a volleyed effort that Ederson spills, and Ream is there to knock it in from one yard! Cordova-Reid got a touch too that might have given Ederson the slip, but Fulham won't care! ONE ONE!
45+3' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2 FULHAM 1 (Ake). CITY REGAIN THE LEAD...A Man City corner causes chaos in the box that Fulham can only half clear. Foden finds Ake on the edge and the defender rifles an effort in from distance that blindsides Leno and nestles in the net. VAR WANTS A LOOK...But the goal is given!
58' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 3 FULHAM 1 (Haaland). They go straight through the middle this time! Rodri finds Alvarez whose dinked pass finds the running Haaland who makes no mistake. So simple, so deadly!
68' - PENALTY TO CITY! Diop barges into the back of Alvarez...Stonewall!
70' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 4 FULHAM 1 (Haaland). He missed last week but makes no mistake this time. He finds the net, no problem.
90+5' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 5 FULHAM 1 (Haaland). THE HAT-TRICK! Rico Lewis cuts back for Haaland on the panlty spot and the Norwegian just whacks it past Leno. Hat-trick! Too. Easy.
KEY STAT
- -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Heineken Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article