Manchester City thrash Crystal Palace 4-1 as Haaland scores twice
Erling Haaland found the net twice as Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 4-1, securing Enzo Maresca’s second consecutive victory in his managerial tenure, reports BritPanorama.
The Norwegian striker, who led the Premier League scoring charts last season with 27 goals, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a precise header from an Antoine Semenyo cross. This goal set the tone for a dominant performance from the hosts, while Palace faced their second successive league defeat.
The second half highlighted a rapid exchange of goals within five minutes. Rayan Cherki extended City’s lead to 2-0 in the 54th minute with a well-placed finish after evading two defenders. Palace swiftly reduced the deficit when Yeremy Pino’s free-kick struck the crossbar, ricocheted off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and went in off the post.
However, any thoughts of a Palace comeback were extinguished shortly after. Cherki restored the two-goal cushion with a deflected effort from 22 yards, before Phil Foden assisted Haaland for City’s fourth. Palace started brightly, with Eddie Nketiah nearly scoring early on, but Donnarumma’s saves kept City ahead.
Despite a lively beginning, Palace struggled to maintain momentum. England manager Thomas Tuchel observed the match as both teams continued to adjust their strategies. The absence of striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, out with a hamstring injury for approximately four weeks, could further complicate Palace’s campaign as the transfer deadline approaches.
As Haaland scored his 10th goal against Crystal Palace in just six league matches, the gap in class was apparent, underscoring City’s ambitions for the season ahead. In a league that consistently demands excellence, today served as a clear reminder of the ruthless efficiency with which Haaland operates, a hallmark of a champion among contenders.
