The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Haaland

  • Haaland scores back-to-back hat trick as Man City beat West Ham

    Haaland scores back-to-back hat trick as Man City beat West Ham

    Erling Haaland continued his superb start to the season by hitting back-to-back hat-tricks as defending champions Manchester City beat West Ham United at London Stadium.

    The Norway striker struck twice in the first half and added a third late on to take his tally to seven goals in three games and maintain City’s 100% start to the campaign.

    Haaland slid in a 10th-minute opener after receiving a pass from Bernardo Silva, but West Ham drew level when Ruben Dias turned Jarrod Bowen’s cross into his own net.

    Haaland restored City’s lead midway through the first half, driving a fierce strike into the roof of the net.

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    The Hammers had struggled to get a foothold in the game but hit the woodwork early in the second half through Mohammed Kudus following a quick break.

    That chance sparked them into life and for a significant period they had their opponents on the back foot.

    But they did not threaten Ederson enough and Haaland – quiet for much of the second half – beat the offside trap late on to get his and City’s third.

    The win means Pep Guardiola’s side are already top of the table in the early stages of this season while West Ham are 13th with three points from three games. BBC

  • Haaland treble fires Man City to win over Ipswich

    Haaland treble fires Man City to win over Ipswich

    Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Premier League champions Manchester City came from behind to beat Ipswich.

    Few expected anything other than a comprehensive win for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League juggernauts, but Sammie Szmodics sent the away fans wild on their first-ever trip to the Etihad Stadium.

    But Ipswich’s first top-flight goal in 8,158 days merely lit a fire under the reigning champions, with Haaland scoring goals either side of a Kevin De Bruyne strike.

    Read Also: Haaland wins second Premier League Golden Boot

    City’s three goals came by the 16th minute – and within 193 seconds of each other – as ex-City goalkeeper Aro Muric made two costly errors after conceding from the penalty spot on his Town debut.

    The Norway international went on to complete his 10th hat-trick in sky blue late in the second half, and Gundogan received a hero’s welcome.

  • EPL: Haaland scores hat-trick as Man City beat Ipswich after early scare

    EPL: Haaland scores hat-trick as Man City beat Ipswich after early scare

    Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City showed Ipswich just how tough life in the Premier League can be with a comfortable victory at Etihad Stadium.

    The Tractor Boys are back in the top flight for the first time in 22 years and they had a dream start at the defending champions as Sammie Szmodics scored on his full debut, squeezing a shot through the legs of Ederson after seven minutes.

    But the joy was very short-lived as Manchester City hit back with three goals in four minutes.

    First, Haaland equalised with a well-taken penalty, given following a review by the video assistant referee after Sam Allison had initially deemed Savinho had dived.

    Kevin de Bruyne then capitalised on hesitation by Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric to drive home before Haaland made it 3-1 after just 16 minutes when he rounded Muric to fire in.

    Manchester City could have been even further ahead as they hit the woodwork twice, although Ipswich had a strong shout for a penalty denied when Leif Davis appeared to be brought down by Brazil winger Savinho inside the box.

    The second half saw arguably the biggest cheer of the game as Ilkay Gundogan – who completed his move from Barcelona back to City on a one-year deal on Friday – came on to mark his return to the club.

    Just as Ipswich looked to have limited Manchester City to three goals, Haaland struck with a low drive from distance late on to complete his hat-trick.

    Victory means Manchester City have a 100% record from their two games so far while Ipswich, who faced Liverpool in their Premier League opener, are waiting for their first points after the most difficult of starts. BBC

  • Haaland headlines  EPL  player of season shortlist

    Haaland headlines  EPL  player of season shortlist

    Manchester City striker Erling Haaland could be named Premier League player of the season for a second consecutive year.

    The 23-year-old Norway international has been nominated for the award alongside City team-mate Phil Foden.

    Arsenal midfielders Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk complete the shortlist.

    The winner, decided by a public vote and a Premier League panel, will be announced on 18 May.

    City boss Pep Guardiola, a four-time winner of the manager of the season award, has again been shortlisted, alongside Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, Villa’s Unai Emery and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

    Last year Haaland became the first player to win the player of the season award and the young player award after scoring 36 goals in 35 league games.

    He has scored 25 this season as City chase a record fourth consecutive title.

    Former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player to win the award in consecutive seasons, in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

    This month England forward Foden was named footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association. He has scored 16 league goals and provided eight assists this season.

    A City player has won the award in each of the past four seasons, with Haaland’s success coming after Kevin de Bruyne in 2019-20 and 2021-22 and Ruben Dias in 2020-21.

    Odegaard and Rice have played pivotal roles in Arsenal’s pursuit of a first title in 20 years.

    Norway international Odegaard has eight goals and eight assists, while England’s Rice has nine goals and seven assists in his first season since joining from West Ham.

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    Palmer, who joined Chelsea from City in September, has scored 21 goals and provided nine assists, while Sweden international Isak has 20 goals and one assist.

    England’s Watkins has enjoyed a prolific season with 19 goals and 12 assists, while Netherlands international Van Dijk, who won the award in 2018-19, led Liverpool to the Carabao Cup this season.

    Haaland, Foden, Palmer and Isak have also been named on the Premier League young player of the season shortlist alongside Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka and defender William Saliba, Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie.

    Player of the season nominees

    Erling Haaland (Man City)

    Phil Foden (Man City)

    Declan Rice (Arsenal)

    Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

    Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

    Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

    Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

    Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

    Manager of the season nominees

    Pep Guardiola (Man City)

    Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

    Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

    Unai Emery (Aston Villa)

    Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth)

    Young player of the season nominees

    Erling Haaland (Man City)

    Phil Foden (Man City)

    Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

    William Saliba (Arsenal)

    Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

    Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

    Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd)

    Destiny Udogie (Tottenham)

  • EPL: Haaland scores four as Man City maul Wolves

    EPL: Haaland scores four as Man City maul Wolves

    Erling Haaland’s first four-goal haul in the Premier League left Manchester City three wins away from an historic fourth successive English league title.

    With no margin for error following Arsenal’s earlier victory over Bournemouth, City delivered the perfect response.

    City were given a helping hand they did not need thanks to a favourable 12th-minute penalty decision from referee Craig Pawson.

    Haaland sent Wolves keeper Jose Sa the wrong way, then beat the Portuguese from the spot again just before the break after he had been brought down by Nelson Semedo.

    In between, the striker had scored with a superb far-post header, climbing to an amazing height unchallenged at the far post, to send Rodri’s cross back across goal and into the corner.

    A minute after Hwang Hee-chan had pulled one back for the visitors, Haaland struck again, powering onto Phil Foden’s brilliant lofted pass.

    It took the Norwegian onto 25 Premier League goals for the season and five clear of Alexander Isak and Cole Palmer in the Golden Boot standings.

    Julian Alvarez finished off the scoring five minutes from time to leave City a point behind Arsenal, but now with three games remaining to the Gunners’ two.

    BBC 

  • UCL: Rudiger spoils for war with Haaland

    UCL: Rudiger spoils for war with Haaland

    Real Madrid defender Rudiger will face the task of stopping Haaland when Manchester City takes on the Spanish giants in a mouth-watering Champions League quarter final showdown.

     The German hardman snuffed out the threat of Haaland in the first leg of the semi-final between the two rivals in the Bernabeu last season. Rudiger was then left out of the second leg – as City thrashed Real 4-0 en-route to conquering Europe for the first time in history. So Rudiger is relishing another battle with goal-machine Haaland – and is confident he can keep the City superstar quiet again.

    Rudiger said: “It was a good game at home last year. We all did a great job by keeping Haaland quiet that evening. We controlled the ball well. Haaland didn’t get much ball.

    “Now for this game, the plan will be the same as last year, to try to control dangerous players like Haaland. I will take that duel as personal.”

    Rudiger could be seen nipping Haaland’s armpit in the 1-1 draw with Pep Guardiola’s men. And he admits he will do whatever it takes again to stop Haaland from ruining Real’s dreams of winning a 15th European Cup.

  • Haaland parties with wife, Joshua in Dubai

    Haaland parties with wife, Joshua in Dubai

    Erling Haaland enjoyed a well-earned New Year’s Eve party in Dubai after the Manchester City striker’s record-breaking 2023.

    Haaland, 23, flew out to the United Arab Emirates after City’s 2-0 win against Sheffield United at the Etihad on Saturday. The Norway striker wasn’t involved in the Premier League clash due to a foot injury which has already caused him to miss six games.

    Haaland was spotted partying with his girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen, as well as heavyweight boxers Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora, at the exclusive event in Dubai.

    It was hosted by Umar Kamani – the founder of fashion brand Pretty Little Thing.

    Haaland is friends with Kamani and spent time in his Dubai mansion while the World Cup took place in Qatar last year. The striker didn’t play in the tournament but was arguably the best player in Europe last season, scoring 52 goals in 53 games for City.

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    A remarkable 36 of those goals came in the Premier League, the most ever scored in a term. City won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup – becoming just the second team after Manchester United in 1999 to achieve that feat in the same season.

    “He feels better with his bone, but he hasn’t had one training session with us,” Pep Guardiola said on Haaland. “Unfortunately, December is so congested with so many games. January is a bit less congested. Hopefully, in January, he can come back with us.”

    Joshua is also earning a well-earned break after securing a third successive victory just before Christmas. The former unified world champion got his career back on track in 2023 by beating Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.

    Joshua’s next opponent was expected to be Deontay Wilder, but that fight is in now in doubt after the Bronze Bomber lost to Joseph Parker on the same card as AJ’s Wallin fight. “We had signed the Wilder contract,” explained Eddie Hearn after the fight.

  • Messi, Mbappe, Haaland finalists for FIFA Best award

    Messi, Mbappe, Haaland finalists for FIFA Best award

    Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the three finalists for the FIFA 2023 Best Men’s Player award, world soccer’s governing body has confirmed.

    Norwegian Haaland helped Manchester City win three major trophies, the Champions League, English Premier League and FA Cup last season.

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    Messi secured the award in 2022 after guiding Argentina to World Cup victory. Following that success, he clinched the Ligue 1 title with Paris St Germain alongside Mbappe before making a move to the Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.

    The shortlist for the women’s best player includes two 2023 World Cup champions, Aitana Bonmati and Jennifer Hermoso from Spain, alongside Linda Caicedo, who represents Colombia.

    The winners will be announced on Jan. 15 in London, England.

  • Haaland becomes fastest EPL player in history to reach 50 goals

    Haaland becomes fastest EPL player in history to reach 50 goals

    Manchester City’s striker Erling Haaland has become the fastest player in Premier League history to reach 50 goals. He did it in 48 matches, smashing Andy Cole’s record by 17.

    After scoring against Liverpool, Erling Haaland has scored 50 goals in 48 Premier League games. The quickest player ever to reach that milestone. 

    Fastest player to score 50 Premier League goals:

    1) Erling Haaland – 48 apps 

    2) Andy Cole – 65 apps

    3) Alan Shearer – 66 apps 

    4) Ruud van Nistelrooy – 68 apps 

    5) Fernando Torres – 72 apps

    Read Also: I froze on seeing Erling Haaland, says Kim Kardashian

    Erling Haaland has scored against 20 of the 21 opposing sides he’s faced in the Premier League with the only exception being Brentford.

    He also broke records during the last campaign for the most goals in a 38-game season, netting an incredible 36 times by the end of the league campaign. 

  • I froze on seeing Erling Haaland, says Kim Kardashian

    I froze on seeing Erling Haaland, says Kim Kardashian

    American media personality, Kim Kardashian has spoken on her reaction when she came across footballer Erling Haaland during her trip to Italy.

    Kim disclosed this in a recent conversation with GQ.

    She said the encounter with Haaland in Italy, left her exhilarated, particularly considering her son’s admiration for the football star.

    The Norwegian narrowly missed the 2023 Ballon d’Or accolade to Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.

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    His prominence in the Premier League has been remarkable over the past season, leaving even celebrities of Kardashian’s calibre awestruck by him.

    She said: “I was in Italy and I saw Erling Haaland and I freaked the f*** out because I know my son would be so excited.

    “You know, it is like his thing. So I’m like such a loser FaceTiming at this event being, like, ‘Saint, you’ll never guess who I ran into!’”