 "Erling Haaland created Premier League history as Man City defeated Fulham in a nine-goal thriller. Image: Reuters")
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scripted new history as Pep Guardiola’s side held off a spirited Fulham side to clinch a nine-goal thriller at Craven Cottage on Tuesday in the English Premier League. While Haaland got only one goal in the match, the opening one in the 17th minute, it still helped him to become the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the Premier League.
It was a left-footed strike for the Norwegian striker that helped him get to the 100-goal mark. The cross came from Man City winger Jeremy Doku as Haaland finished it with a first-time shot. He has completed 100 goals in just 111 matches, 13 fewer than former record holder Alan Shearer.
Shearer also holds the record for most goals in the Premier League with 260 goals.
“If you told me when he arrived that he’d score 100 goals in 111 games, I’d say, ‘Are you sure?’ The numbers are insane. Today he was unbelievable,” City boss Pep Guardiola said.
“It’s incredible, impressive. He was outstanding, today he was unbelievable. He made a fantastic goal. Hopefully, he’s starving hungry to continue with this club to make more and more goals. I’m happy for him, happy for the team to deliver him this day.”
How Man City beat Fulham
It was early carnage at Cottage from City as they took a 5-1 lead by the 54th minute. Besides Haaland’s opener, Phil Foden bagged a double, Tijjani Reijnders also struck and Sander Berge scored an own goal.
But Fulham roared back with three second-half goals – a brace from Samuel Chukwueze and one from Alex Iwobi – for a thrilling finish.
After Haaland opened the scoring, Reijnders doubled City’s lead in the 37th when he ran onto a through ball from Haaland, and Foden struck his first in the 44th minute with a beautiful shot from outside the box into the top-left corner.
Fulham’s Emile Smith Rowe pulled one back with a diving header seconds before halftime, but Foden completed his double in the 48th minute from the top of the six-yard box and Berge deflected Doku’s shot in off his knee to pad City’s lead six minutes later.
But Fulham were not done as Iwobi struck in the 57th minute, and Chukwueze scored in the 72nd and 78th, thanks to some lacklustre City defending.
The home supporters roared with every attack and they thought they had levelled at the death but Josko Gvardiol made an incredible clearance off the line from Josh King’s shot seconds before the final whistle as City’s fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Haaland: ‘Nine goals is a lot’
“I think if you’re sitting at home now you enjoyed that game,” Haaland told Sky Sports. “It was a crazy game, nine goals is a lot. In the end, we win and we’re happy but it’s not the best win.”
Asked if he could enjoy the game as a football fan, Guardiola laughed and said: “Impossible”.
“5-1, yeah, but 5-4, I was watching more the watch than the game,” he said. “But with the time, I will remember the day I was there. When both teams, they want to try – top quality players – and go forward, the football is incredibly spectacular.”
With Reuters inputs