Haaland is bang on target again
BRACE: COPENHAGEN KEEPER SAYS STRIKER IS ‘NOT HUMAN’
Erling Haaland only needed 45 minutes to add two more goals to a remarkable start to his Manchester City career as the English giants thrashed FC Copenhagen 5-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Haaland now has 19 goals in 11 competitive games for City and was denied the chance of a fourth hat-trick in five home games after being rested for the second half by Pep Guardiola.
City were already 3-0 up at the break as the Norwegian twice swept home from close range before David Khocholava deflected Sergio Gomez’s shot into his own net.
“I’ve never witnessed anything like it in my life,” said City midfielder Jack Grealish on Haaland’s scoring streak.
“For the first and second goal I was just laughing. I was like, ‘how?’ He’s just always there.
“Their keeper said to me: ‘this guy – he’s not human’.”
Riyad Mahrez took advantage of Haaland’s absence to score his first goal of the season from the penalty spot before Julian Alvarez rounded off the scoring.
With maximum points from their opening three games, City are cruising towards the last-16 and can seal qualification with two games to spare should they win in the Danish capital in six days’ time.
Copenhagen are languishing in mid-table in their domestic league and in manager Jacob Neestrup’s second game in charge came to the Etihad with damage limitation in mind.
But for Copenhagen goalkeeper
Kamil Grabara, City could easily have surpassed the six goals they smashed past Manchester United on Sunday.
“The reason we were consistent all these years is that after a derby and lots of compliments, we are able to play a Champions League game and play the way we played,” said Guardiola.
The 22-year-old now has 28 Champions League goals in 22 appearances.
With the points safely secured, Guardiola took the opportunity to withdraw Haaland with 10 more games to come before the World Cup break in just over a month’s time.
Youngsters Rico Lewis and Joshua Wilson-Esbrand were handed their Champions League debuts off the bench as Cancelo and Silva were also given a breather. –