Erling Haaland breaks record and leads Man City to win

Manchester City continued their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. Despite an early setback, City turned the game around with two goals from the phenomenal Erling Braut Haaland, securing all three points and breaking yet another record.

Brentford’s lightning start

Brentford shocked the home crowd with a lightning-fast start. Just 23 seconds into the match, Keane Lewis-Potter's cross found its way into the box, where Yoane Wissa capitalized on poor defending from City, heading the ball past Ederson to give the visitors an unexpected 1-0 lead. City, however, responded with resilience. Despite missing key defender Nathan Aké, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, they gradually regained control of the game. Brentford, with Dutch players Mark Flekken and Sepp van den Berg in their starting lineup, struggled to contain City’s relentless attack as the first half progressed.

Haaland's heroics

Erling Haaland proved once again why he is one of the most feared strikers in world football. In the 39th minute, Haaland equalized for Manchester City with a clinical finish. The Norwegian forward received the ball inside the box, spun swiftly, and fired it into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Flekken with no chance. The momentum fully shifted in City’s favor, and it wasn’t long before Haaland struck again. After a long ball from City goalkeeper Ederson, Haaland found himself one-on-one with Flekken. Remaining composed, he coolly slotted the ball into the net, making it 2-1 just after the half-hour mark. This goal marked Haaland’s ninth in just four Premier League matches this season—a record-breaking feat no other player has ever achieved in such a short time.

City dominates the second half

In the second half, Manchester City controlled the game, coming close to extending their lead several times. Haaland, continuing to torment Brentford's defense, even hit the post. Meanwhile, Flekken did well to keep the scoreline respectable with a series of fine saves that kept Brentford in the contest. Brentford, despite their early promise, struggled to create any clear-cut chances after their opening goal. Manchester City’s defense, though weakened by the absence of Aké, held firm and ensured there would be no late drama.

Haaland's record-breaking run

Haaland’s performance in this match solidified his place in the Premier League history books. With nine goals in the first four games, the Norwegian striker set a new record for the most goals scored in the opening matches of a season—a mark that underlines his exceptional talent and lethal finishing ability. Manchester City’s win maintains their perfect start to the season, with four wins from four matches. Pep Guardiola’s side continues to look like the team to beat as they aim for another Premier League title.

Big week ahead for Man City

With momentum on their side, Manchester City will look to extend their winning streak in the coming weeks. They are ready for a big week. On Wednesday City faces Inter in their first Champions League match of this season. A special match for Man City, since they won their only Champions League trophy after a final against Inter. On Sunday Arsenal travels to Manchester to play against City. As for Brentford, they will hope to bounce back after this hard-fought defeat and build on the positives from their early-season performances.