Haaland leads Man City to victory over Ipswich Town

The match at the Etihad Stadium began with a surprising twist as Ipswich Town, returning to the Premier League after a 22-year absence, took an unexpected lead. In the seventh minute, Ben Johnson’s pinpoint through ball found Sammie Szmodics, who capitalized on the opportunity, slotting the ball between Ederson’s legs to make it 0-1. The early goal stunned the home crowd and gave the underdogs a brief moment of hope.

Quick response from City

However, the lead didn’t last long. Manchester City, renowned for their resilience and attacking prowess, responded in spectacular fashion. Just five minutes later, Erling Haaland converted a penalty to equalize after a foul inside the box. Before Ipswich could regroup, Kevin De Bruyne put City ahead in the 14th minute, capitalizing on a defensive blunder by Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, making it 2-1.

City's dominance continued as they extended their lead just two minutes later. De Bruyne played a perfectly timed pass to Haaland, who effortlessly rounded the onrushing Muric and slotted the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the match, putting City firmly in control at 3-1.

Gündogan’s return

Manchester City nearly added a fourth goal when Rico Lewis, spotting Muric out of position, struck the crossbar from distance. Despite the missed opportunity, City remained in control throughout the match.

The Etihad Stadium erupted with applause as Ilkay Gündogan made his second debut for City, coming on as a substitute for Jérémy Doku with 20 minutes left to play. The German midfielder, who recently rejoined City after a stint with Barcelona, was warmly welcomed back by the fans.

Haaland completes the hat-trick

The match culminated in the 85th minute when Haaland completed his hat-trick. The Norwegian striker unleashed a powerful shot from just outside the box, finding the back of the net with precision. His goal sealed the 4-1 victory and marked his tenth hat-trick in a Manchester City shirt, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most lethal finishers in the game.

Dominant start to the season

This victory, following their 2-0 win over Chelsea in the opening match, underscores Manchester City's intent to defend their Premier League title. Despite falling behind early, City’s quick and decisive response highlights their strength and depth. Haaland's remarkable goal-scoring form continues to be a driving force, making City a formidable contender once again this season. Next up for Manchester City is a match against West Ham United, where they will aim to extend their winning streak and maintain their place at the top of the Premier League table. Ipswich Town, meanwhile, will look to regroup as they face a tough away fixture against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup.