Man City 5 Sunderland 3: Erling Haaland sets unique record as Maresca’s men go three points clear after thriller

ERLING HAALAND had the last word as Manchester City went three points clear at the top on an afternoon of high drama. But spare a thought for Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey who scored at hat-trick but ended up on the losing side. Erling Haaland had the last word as Manchester City went three points clear at the top Credit: EPA The Black Cats star found his first goals of the season – all at once Credit: Shutterstock Editorial You have to go back 19 years for the last time that happened in the Prem – when Roque Santa Cruz did it for Blackburn just down the road from here at Wigan. The match ball might not be much of a consolation for the Dutchman. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Enzo Maresca had predicted it would be his team’s hardest game of the season and they were given an almighty scare by Sunderland. On three occasions his team scored only for the Black Cats to hit back within a matter on minutes. And it was only when Haaland slotted in his 10th goal of the season eight minutes from time that the home crowd could finally breathe easily. It makes it seven wins out of seven for new boss Maresca – yet that doesn’t begin to tell the story. City took the lead inside 10 minutes and it was brilliant thinking by City’s Enzo Fernandez. The record-signing’s free-kick from the right hand side of the box took Robin Roefs by surprise but there was no doubting the quality of it. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Enzo Fernandez scored Manchester City’s first goal and Rayan Cherki their second Credit: Getty This was the Argentine’s first goal since he equalised for his country against England in the World Cup semi-final just over two months ago. And the Sunderland fans who booed his name before kick off would have hated it. But within three minutes it was all forgotten as another Enzo- Le Fee this time – threaded a beaut of a pass to Brian Brobbey who finished clinically. It had been a breathless start but it was just getting going. Just before the half hour City edged back in front – as Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland were both involved before Antoine Semenyo moved it on to Cherki. It was a scruffy build up in many ways but there was no doubting the brilliance of the finish as the French maestro shifted it onto his right foot and drilled a low shot past Roefs. This time the lead lasted slightly longer – four minutes to be exact. Just like last week, City were involved in a lengthy VAR check and this time it went against them. Brian Brobbey secured a hat-trick at the Etihad Credit: Getty At Old Trafford Enzo Maresca’s men got a huge slice of fortune from the video assistants as Erling Haaland’s winner was allowed to stand. Here there was a long wait while Brobbey’s second equaliser of the afternoon was checked. Thomas Meunier was very close to being off as he was picked out by another super pass from Enzo Le Fee. The Belgian international squared for Brobbey to tap into an empty net. It was extremely tight but VAR Michael Salisbury gave it the green light. Yet there was still bags more drama to come before half time though as Marc Guehi challenged Dan Ballard tor a cross from the right. It dropped kindly for Semenyo who thumped a low shot through the crowd to restore his team’s lead. Before half-time, Haaland somehow missed a chance served upto him on a plate by new boy Iliman Ndiaye – firing it wide with the goal at his mercy. And at the other end Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make an acrobatic save to keep out a deflected shot by Brobbey. Antoine Semenyo scored City’s third and fourth goals in the hopes of capitalising of Arsenal’s mistake Credit: Reuters It couldn’t carry on like this, could it? Well yes actually. City fans probably thought they could finally breathe easily as Kevin Danso and Nordi Mukiele got in each other’s way and Semenyo thumped home the loose ball. But just two minutes later Brobbey completed his hat-trick as Granit Xhaka’s pass was squared by Nilson Angulo – and the forward had the easiest job to finish it off. That made it seven goals in the first hour – and the points were still anyone’s. The visitors could have been level minutes later as Ballard’s header was almost put into his own net by City skipper Ruben Dias. The Portuguese defender managed to get back to acrobatically clear off his own line and City’s lead remained intact – just. An equaliser would not have flattered the visitors but as is often the case here, the big guy had the final word. Haaland has now scored against every Premier League team his has faced Credit: Reuters Enzo Maresca’s City boast a 100 per cent win rate this season Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Sunderland were the only Prem team Haaland had not scored against and that record looked likely to remain intact. However Prem defenders know you can’t keep him quiet for long and there he was eight minutes from time finishing off a cross by Josko Gvardiol. Just like in last weekend’s derby it was initially flagged offside due to the Croatian defender going too early. But the VAR showed he had timed his run to perfection and Haaland was able to embark on a belated celebration once more. And that was that for what was surely the game of the season so far. Comment now