Erling Haaland scored a hattrick to help Man City produce one of the high-scoring football scores of the weekend in the Premier League. The Etihad Stadium greeted Kompany warmly, but there were few greetings on the field as merciless Haaland scored twice in the first half to send City to their fifth consecutive FA Cup semi-final. At the half, Pep Guardiola’s side picked up the tempo even further, running Sky Bet Championship leaders Burnley ragged as Haaland scored his second hat-trick of the week in 59 minutes, following up his five goals in 65 minutes against RB Leipzig in midweek. The Norwegian goal machine has now scored 42 goals this season. Haaland was replaced with the game already won before Cole Palmer and Julian Alvarez, who both scored twice, got in on the act.
Most of the pre-match hype had centered on Kompany, who had a spectacular playing career with City and has a statue outside the stadium. Burnley started well but lacked the quality to put Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to the test. Yet, as the clock approached the 30-minute mark, City had only one shot on goal and showed symptoms of displeasure in their performance. Suddenly, just after the half-hour mark, Haaland changed everything with a quickfire double. Alvarez fed Haaland on the edge of the area, and despite Bailey Peacock-run Farrell’s out, he instinctively pushed the ball beyond the ‘keeper.
The next followed three minutes later, this coming from Foden after a charge down the left. His low ball into the area arced invitingly for Haaland, who expertly lifted it over Peacock-Farrell. Burnley attempted to retaliate, and Ian Maatsen made a wonderful save from Ortega shortly before the break, but City and Haaland were unfazed. Haaland completed his treble just before the hour by being in the right place at the right time to pounce on a rebound after Foden hit the post. He gave Peacock-Farrell no chance with a rifled home goal, and the score was swiftly increased to 4-0 when Kevin De Bruyne surged into the box and squared for Alvarez to tap home.
Haaland was substituted in the 63rd minute since it was midweek. It meant he contributed eight goals in 126 minutes of action for the week. Burnley received little reprieve as Foden’s cross was deflected into the feet of Palmer, who converted. Soon after, Alvarez raced onto a De Bruyne through pass and twisted inside Ameen Al-Dakhil to smash home the sixth. Wembley awaits, and on current form, they will be difficult to stop.
“It’s been a nice few games, significant games – 7-0 and 6-0 before the international break is outstanding. I’m overjoyed. Every goal is important to me, and every goal for the team is important as well. Today’s 6-0 victory over a very good Burnley team is incredible,” Erling Haaland said. “We’ve reached the point in the season where we need to be at our best. This is where decisions are made. Every game must be a success for us. The last few games have been championships, which is exactly what we’ve been doing. I’m a striker who enjoys scoring goals. But my concentration isn’t on scoring goals; it’s on creating opportunities, and with them, there’s a strong possibility I’ll score goals.”
“I’ve played against legends such as (Lionel) Messi, Ronaldinho, (Zinedine) Zidane, and Cristiano Ronaldo,” Burnley boss Vincent Kompany said. “In the end, they are part of a very special elite because I believe even the greatest will find it tough to stop those men, no matter what you say, because they will find a way, and someone like Erling will continue to find a way. The most important thing for me is that his game can still grow, which is perhaps what distinguishes him from other superstars in general; he appears to me to be a superstar who is eager to progress, which is fascinating to see.”
“I believe your goal-scoring record in general places you in a specific bracket, or category. I don’t think I need to say much more than to show you his track record of accomplishments,” he added. “That is the most difficult element of the game, but I see the will to progress. His game has developed since he arrived six months ago, and if he continues to do so, he will have to (be called a great) since this is not something you see very often.”
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