By Martin Graham | fifteenth Sep 2024
Erling Haaland’s double helped Manchester Metropolis preserve their flawless begin to the Premier League season, securing a hard-fought victory over Brentford. Regardless of an early setback, Metropolis recovered to assert the win, with Haaland enjoying an important position within the turnaround.
Early Shock for Metropolis
Brentford surprised the reigning champions simply seconds into the match, with Yoane Wissa capitalizing on a defensive error. John Stones and Ederson misjudged a clearance try following Keane Lewis-Potter’s header, leaving Wissa to nod into an open objective after simply 23 seconds—the quickest objective of the season up to now.
Regardless of this shaky starting, Metropolis discovered their rhythm because of Haaland’s sharp intuition. After Kevin De Bruyne was dispossessed in Brentford’s field, the Norwegian ahead reacted shortly to fit the ball into the online, bringing his crew again on degree phrases.
Haaland’s Brilliance and Missed Hat-trick Alternative
Haaland, who took to the sector regardless of private unhappiness after the lack of a detailed household good friend earlier within the week, added a second objective earlier than halftime. Outmuscling Ethan Pinnock to achieve an extended ball from Ederson, he displayed his bodily dominance and ending prowess.
This brace introduced Haaland near attaining a uncommon feat—three consecutive hat-tricks in English top-flight soccer, one thing not carried out since 1946. He had a number of possibilities to finish his hat-trick, together with a strike tipped over the bar by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken and a shot that rattled the put up. Nevertheless, the elusive third objective by no means got here, although Haaland was nonetheless named the membership’s man of the match.
Metropolis’s Energy Regardless of Challenges
Other than Haaland’s brilliance, Manchester Metropolis showcased different standout performances. Jack Grealish appeared again in kind, testing Flekken with a sensible effort that required a full-stretch save. Rodri made his first look of the season within the second half, whereas Phil Foden remained on the bench forward of Metropolis’s busy upcoming schedule, together with a Champions League conflict in opposition to Inter Milan and a Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
Haaland’s two targets introduced his tally for Manchester Metropolis to 99 in simply 103 video games, an astonishing scoring charge that outpaces even membership legend Sergio Aguero. At this charge, the Norwegian might surpass Aguero’s document of 260 targets inside a couple of seasons, underlining his worth to the crew.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports activities author
