Erling Haaland nets four goals as Man City routs Wolves 5-1 to stay in control of Premier League title race

SPORTSAREENA.com2 weeks ago

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Erling Haaland scored four goals — together with a first-half hat-trick — as Manchester City crushed Wolverhampton 5-1 to retain control of the Premier League title race on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s group wanted to reply to first-place Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth earlier in the day and did so emphatically with one other huge haul from Haaland.

The Norway striker struck twice from the penalty spot in the primary half, both facet of a towering header, earlier than including a fourth with a curling strike.

Substitute Julian Alvarez additionally bought on the scoresheet, whereas Wolves’ comfort got here from Hwang Hee-chan.

The victory lifted City, which is chasing an unprecedented fourth straight league crown, again inside a degree of the Gunners. City has three video games left, whereas Arsenal has two.

Haaland’s excellent show took his tally for the marketing campaign to 36 in all competitions and lifted him to 25 — 5 clear of his nearest challengers — in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot award. His hat trick was his ninth in City colours.

For Wolves’ gamers, there was little escape from the onslaught though supervisor Gary O’Neil might have been relieved his touchline ban saved him hidden from view.

City’s dedication was clear from the outset and it got here as no shock that the hosts quickly took the lead, though there was debate over the primary penalty after 12 minutes.

Josko Gvardiol was shaping to shoot as Rayan Ait-Nouri tried to clear and the pair collided. The resolution may have gone both method however referee Craig Pawson awarded the spot kick and Haaland confidently tucked it away.

Aided by some poor Wolves defending, City may quickly have had extra as Kevin De Bruyne shot extensive and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa pushed away Haaland’s header. Phil Foden dribbled via the world solely to lose control on the very important second.

The inevitable second got here in the thirty fifth minute as Rodri received possession, continued his run and exchanged passes with De Bruyne earlier than lofting a cross to the again put up, the place Haaland rose magnificently to head previous Sa.

The Norwegian accomplished his treble in first-half stoppage time with a second penalty after he was introduced down by Nelson Semedo.

This time Pawson was not satisfied however pointed to the spot after reviewing the problem on the pitchside monitor.

Wolves provided little earlier than the break however pulled one again in opposition to the run of play after 53 minutes.

City keeper Ederson Moraes, who overcame a shoulder damage to begin, palmed a cross from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde into the trail of Hwang and the South Korean turned the ball into the online.

Yet any hopes Wolves might need had for a fightback had been dispelled instantly and resoundingly by Haaland.

The ahead latched onto an extended ball from Foden and reduce inside to blast a ferocious shot into the far nook from simply inside the world.

Haaland nearly had a fifth moments later as he pressured a positive save from Sa however, after additionally denying Mateo Kovavic, the goalkeeper was overwhelmed once more by Alvarez 5 minutes from time.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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