HAT-TRICK HAALAND
Trailing 2-0 at home, City’s Norwegian striker rides his luck and lights up the Etihad with a treble
THIS is why Manchester City fought off the cream of Europe to sign Erling Haaland.
Trailing 2-0 to Crystal Palace and groans echoing around the Etihad, Haaland’s ruthless hattrick — his first goals at his new home — produced an adrenaline rush that took over the stadium.
When the Norwegian completed his 19-minute treble by bouncing Joel Ward to the floor and shooting into the corner, even Pep Guardiola was jumping around and punching the air like a teenage season-ticket holder.
Palace won’t believe how the game changed, having scored twice themselves in the opening 21 minutes and stopping City from having a shot on target until the second half.
They will rue some bad luck: Jordan Ayew had a goal disallowed when 2-0 up, and Haaland then escaped even a yellow card for an accidental high boot that caught Joachim Andersen. But in the end they were bulldozed by a No9 monster.
‘It was an amazing feeling to score a hat-trick, a proud moment for me and my family,’ said Haaland. ‘We had to listen to the manager and do adjustments. We did that and got the result. It is a mentality to trust each other and keep going.
‘In the end, we scored four goals, that is a really good thing. But when we play at home we shouldn’t concede early goals. It’s about working harder.’
It was the fourth time in six matches that Guardiola has seen his team fall 2-0 behind and it’s a habit he’ll want to break soon.
It will be tough for Haaland — who also netted in last weekend’s comeback 3-3 draw at Newcastle — to always rescue them if they can’t keep things tight at the other end.
Haaland has now scored six goals in his first four Premier League games, the best opening run since Diego Costa in 2014, but there was also weakness in defence, with England internationals John Stones and Kyle Walker struggling against Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who took over the talisman mantle in the absence of injured Wilfried Zaha.
Fortunately for Guardiola, City’s firepower proved greater than their defensive frailties. They now have 10 points from four matches this season and are unbeaten in 16 Premier League games, a run dating back to February.
Palace manager Patrick Vieira had masterminded a 2-0 win at the Etihad last season and his players made another lightning start to lead after four minutes.
Joao Cancelo fouled Ayew by the touchline and the resulting freekick from Eze caused chaos.
His delivery skimmed the head of a jumping Kevin De Bruyne and took a ricochet off Walker on to the knee of Stones, who looked helpless as the ball wrongfooted Ederson into the net.
It gave Palace’s five-man defence something to protect and they kept City quiet before adding a second goal themselves, again from a setpiece, after 21 minutes.
Eze was the creator once more with an outswinging corner that allowed Andersen to find space between Haaland, Stones and Walker and rise alone to power in a header.
The mood inside the Etihad was one of stunned silence and Guardiola had that sinking feeling of having to chase a game again.
It might have been even worse. When Odsonne Edouard raised his foot to block Ederson’s clearance, the ball dropped for Ayew to roll in for what he thought was 3-0.
Yet it was disallowed, though the striker was in no danger of connecting with the keeper.
Vieira didn’t feel qualified to comment. ‘I haven’t had a chance to look at it. We didn’t see (it) where I was,’ he said.
The other City scare came when Haaland raised a boot that caught Andersen in the head, requiring treatment for the centre-half. Surprisingly, not even a yellow card was shown. Vieira was again diplomatic: ‘I don’t want to spend too much time on it. The referee was in the right place and we have to move on,’ he added.
City were a different animal in the second half. Guardiola sent out Julian Alvarez and Ilkay Gundogan to warm up and it had the desired effect, with Bernardo Silva reducing the arrears after 53 minutes.
Rodri’s pinpoint pass found him on the right edge of the penalty area and the Portuguese star cut inside two defenders before shooting low from 18 yards, aided by a deflection off Jeffrey Schlupp.
Alvarez and Gundogan still made their entrance on the hour but from then on, it was the Haaland show. The equaliser arrived when Alvarez headed the ball down for Phil Foden and from his arcing cross, Haaland got in front of Marc Guehi to connect with an unstoppable header.
He then put City ahead after a flowing City move involving Bernardo and Alvarez.
At the end, Stones mishit his finish but the ball landed at Haaland’s feet, with inevitable consequences.
‘Erling has been scoring goals all his life. The sense is there to be in the right place — don’t ask me how,’ said an impressed Guardiola. ‘I saw his body language when we were 2-0 down and how he encouraged his mates.
‘He never runs away from the game. Even when he doesn’t touch the ball, he stays involved.’
The hat-trick goal showed off Haaland’s speed and power. Racing on to a pass by Gundogan, the Norwegian shrugged aside Ward — who fell over in the chase — and side-footed the ball into the corner.
Guardiola roared in joy along the touchline. He substituted Haaland soon after so the player could receive a standing ovation. The hug between manager and star striker was genuine.