Erling Haaland netted two goals as Manchester City triumphed over Bournemouth with a score of 3-1, moving them to second place in the Premier League on Sunday.
Haaland found the back of the net before and after Tyler Adams managed to equalize, and Nico O’Reilly’s inaugural goal of the season ensured that City would stay six points adrift of Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola might prefer to distribute the goalscoring responsibilities among other players, yet he will certainly want Haaland to maintain his scoring pace, taking pleasure in witnessing the Norway striker elevate his total to 13 Premier League goals in 10 matches this season.
Both of Haaland’s goals were assisted by Rayan Cherki, marking his first assists in the Premier League during just his second league start for City after missing nearly two months due to a thigh injury.
Bournemouth has never managed to earn a point at the Etihad, and they faced their first league defeat since the season opener, but they concluded the weekend in fourth position.
The away team nearly found the net within the first minute, but Eli Kroupi was clearly offside as he finished David Brooks’ low delivery from close quarters.
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The ambitious visitors aimed to disrupt City but played a risky game with a high defensive line, which was exploited in the 17th minute.
Nico González, once again outstanding in City’s midfield, delivered a cleverly lofted pass out of defense that Cherki headed towards Haaland, who had an open path to run before slotting a shot beneath Djordje Petrovic.
City appeared to be in control, but just eight minutes later, Bournemouth equalized.
Gianluigi Donnarumma believed he had been fouled by Brooks while reaching for a corner; however, the ball landed at Adams’ feet, who powered it home, causing an uproar from City fans — with Donnarumma receiving a yellow card for his reaction after VAR Paul Tierney upheld Anthony Taylor’s decision that the contact was minimal.
The Etihad crowd was frustrated. Cherki had a shot blocked before City appealed for a penalty as Bernardo Silva’s cross was deflected by Álex Jiménez, but the ball hit the Spaniard’s leg before his arm.
As City supporters expressed their displeasure towards referee Taylor, their team regained the lead through another collaboration between Cherki and Haaland, with the Frenchman again providing space for City’s star before Haaland circled around Petrovic to tap the ball in.
It was almost a third goal seconds later when Haaland found O’Reilly, but he was pushed wide by Petrovic before Jimenez cleared the effort off the line. Jérémy Doku then set up Haaland again, but Petrovic deflected his shot away.
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This left the door ajar for Bournemouth. Five minutes into the second half, a swift counterattack resulted in Kroupi shooting into the side-netting.
Three minutes later, the in-form Frenchman had an even more promising opportunity as the ball fell to him on the penalty spot, but Donnarumma managed to save it.
City needed a third goal and achieved it just before the hour mark. Phil Foden, celebrating his 200th league match for City, assisted O’Reilly, who took a moment to set his shot before placing it into the far corner.
No hat trick for Haaland ensued, as he was replaced in the 82nd minute, and his substitute Omar Marmoush struck the side-netting late in the game, while Petrovic denied Tijjani Reijnders.
