Manchester City’s Starling Erling Haaland Scores Four in Thrilling WinManchester City’s Starling Erling Haaland Scores Four in Thrilling Win In a pulsating clash at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland stole the show with a remarkable four-goal performance that propelled the reigning Premier League champions to a thrilling 5-2 victory over Southampton. The Norwegian talisman made his mark early on, netting the opening goal in just the first minute with a clinical finish past Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. As the game progressed, Haaland continued to torment the Saints defense, adding to his tally with three more goals in the second half. His second came in the 50th minute, a thunderous header from a Joao Cancelo cross. He then completed his hat-trick with a trademark left-footed strike in the 65th minute, before rounding off his impressive day with a close-range finish in the 80th minute. Southampton, however, put up a valiant fight throughout the match. Stuart Armstrong gave them hope with a goal in the 16th minute, and Che Adams reduced the deficit to one goal in the 70th minute. But Haaland’s goalscoring exploits proved too much for the visitors to overcome. His four-goal haul marked the second consecutive hat-trick for the 22-year-old, who has now scored 12 goals in his first seven Premier League appearances. Haaland’s performance drew rave reviews from manager Pep Guardiola. “He’s a unique player, a real goal machine,” Guardiola said. “He makes us a better team. He’s not just a goalscorer, he offers so much more.” Manchester City’s victory extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season to seven games. They now sit top of the table with 19 points, two clear of second-placed Arsenal. For Southampton, the defeat leaves them in 13th place with eight points. They will be looking to bounce back when they host Everton in their next match.
