AS his proud father, Alfie, watched on, Erling Haaland ended yet again as Manchester City’s hero. His double claimed victory against a spirited Brighton and, before the clocks go back, he has a staggering 17 Premier League goals.
The Norwegian’s count is 22 in all competitions. This afternoon’s plunder consisted of a sweet route-one strike and a penalty that was Manchester City’s 600th finish in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola. It was given following a lengthy VAR review of a challenge on Bernardo Silva.
Haaland’s opener was refreshing as here was a long-ball ploy that is supposedly anathema for Guardiola’s pass-and-move masters. Ederson provided a supreme assist, the flighted 50-yard clearance bouncing once in Brighton’s half before Haaland chested on, rammed aside Adam Webster, and, with Robert Sánchez stranded, had his right boot in execution mode.
The second came when the referee, Craig Pawson, overturned his initial no-penalty decision about two minutes later as play continued after the incident. Bernardo Silva went for the ball and Lewis Dunk stuck out a foot and connected with the midfielder’s leg. Haaland coolly beat Sánchez with the penalty.