Manchester City Cruise to Victory in Premier League OpenerManchester City Cruise to Victory in Premier League Opener Manchester City kicked off their Premier League title defense in style on Sunday, cruising to a 2-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium. From the outset, City dominated possession and created numerous scoring chances. Erling Haaland, the Norwegian sensation acquired from Borussia Dortmund, made his long-awaited debut and displayed his predatory instincts early on. In the 36th minute, Haaland latched onto Kevin De Bruyne’s cross and headed home from close range to give City the lead. The Belgian playmaker also provided the assist for City’s second goal, which came just before half-time. This time, De Bruyne found Bernardo Silva, who unleashed a venomous drive that crashed into the top corner. The Portuguese international has now scored in each of the last four Premier League opening weekends. After the break, West Ham came out with more purpose and applied pressure on the City defense. However, the champions remained resolute and goalkeeper Ederson was rarely tested. City continued to pose an attacking threat and Haaland had several opportunities to extend their lead. The striker came close with a header in the 75th minute, but West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski produced a stunning save. As the game entered its dying stages, West Ham pushed hard for a consolation goal, but City held firm to secure their first three points of the campaign. “It’s a great way to start the season,” said City manager Pep Guardiola. “We played really well and created a lot of chances. We deserved to win.” Manchester City’s victory sends an early message to their title rivals that they are determined to retain their crown. Haaland’s goalscoring debut will only serve to instill further confidence in the squad, and with De Bruyne and Silva in such devastating form, City look primed for another successful season.
