Manchester City is putting pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a win at Fulham FC. Top scorer Erling Haaland scores a record goal.
What would England’s top club Manchester City be without its superstar Erling Haaland? The 25-year-old attacker set the next record of his incredible striker career in the shock win against Fulham FC.
In the spectacular 5:4 (3:1) win at Fulham FC, in which the Citizens had already led 5:1, the Norwegian scored his 100th goal in his 111th game in the Premier League. Never before has an attacker in the English league reached this mark so quickly. It was also his 16th goal in his 14th game this season.
With this shock victory, coach Pep Guardiola’s team has moved back within two points of league leaders Arsenal FC, but has one more game in hand. Despite a remarkable display of determination, Fulham FC missed the chance to move further away from the relegation places.
Record goalscorer Haaland
Manchester City took control of the game from the start. After six minutes, Guardiola’s team had their first big opportunity. Who else but Erling Haaaland should be in control of the lead? However, his shot from a central position in the Fulham penalty area was a little too imprecise and only hit the goal post.
But nothing changed in the Citizens’ superiority. In the first ten minutes the guests had 84 percent possession of the ball. Apart from occasional relief attacks from Fulham FC, only the team from Manchester played. And that dominance also turned it into a lead.
After a low cross from Jeremy Doku, Haaland hammered the ball into the goal net from ten meters to make it 1-0 (17th).
Haaland also with a goal assist
But now Fulham also woke up and coach Marco Silva’s team dared to do more. Emile Smith Rowe came close to equalizing after 24 minutes when he appeared free in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the City goalkeeper made a reflex save.
After that the game was at least a little more balanced until Haaland had his next flash of inspiration. The Norwegian put the ball right into the path of Tijjani Reijnders, who had started in front, and the Dutchman converted effortlessly and completely free-standing to make it 2-0 (37th).
Leno with weak fist defense
And that’s not all: After a corner for the “Citizens”, goalkeeper Bernd Leno punched the ball too short and right in front of Phil Foden’s feet. The offensive player briefly got hold of the ball and shot the ball from 18 meters into the top left corner of the goal to make it 3-0 (44th). The preliminary decision seemed to have been made, but Fulham reared up again.
It was once again Smith Rowe on the Cottagers side who made his presence felt in front of the Manchester goal. With a header from nine meters into the far corner to make it 1:3 (45th + 2) – after a cross from Harry Wilson – the hosts were able to stay in the game.
Manchester continues to score
However, Fulham FC’s hope for better times only lasted for a short time. Three minutes after the restart, Phoden increased the score to 4:1 (48th). Erling Haaland passed a pass from the left side into the penalty area with his heel to Phil Foden, who hammered the ball into the goal with a powerful shot from the corner of the six-yard box.
Ten minutes later it was Doku who got on the scoresheet. With a remarkable and slightly deflected shot from the left corner of the penalty area into the far corner of the goal, the 23-year-old increased the score to 5-1.
Fulham still active
But the Silva team didn’t give up despite the visitors’ apparently unassailable lead and tried to make the result a little more conciliatory. And that should succeed. Alex Iwobi curled a cross ball from the back that had previously been blocked by the Citizens into the right corner of the goal to make it 2:5 (57th).
Even after that, the Cottagers tried everything to further improve the result from their point of view and had a few more promising approaches to goal. But the guests still seemed to be much more dangerous. Haaland had his second goal on his forehead after 69 minutes, but his header hit the post – his second aluminum goal of the evening.
Chukwueze with a double pack
But then Fulham started hunting for goals again – Samuel Chukwueze made it 3-5 (72nd) with a long-range shot from 16 meters. And once fueled by that collective rush of adrenaline, Fulham carried on in exactly the same way. Donnarumma – similar to Leno before – hit a corner too short and right at the feet of Chukwueze, who hammered the ball flat into the bottom right corner of the goal from 16 meters to make it 4:5 (78th).
In the final minutes of the game, the Citizens managed to take control of the game again and keep Fulham away from their own goal. It was a fighting end to a game in which both teams used up their last reserves of strength.
Gvardiol saves on the goal line
Fulham even had the score at 5:5 at the last second, Joshua King had already pushed the ball past Donnarumma, but Josko Gvardiol saved on the goal line and prevented the sensation of an incredible comeback. Then the memorable game was over.