Manchester City cruises to 4-1 victory over West Ham

Manchester City continued their resurgence with a commanding 4-1 victory over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The win, coming just days after a crucial 2-0 triumph over Leicester City, showcased City’s growing confidence as they seek to recover from a challenging season.

Early drama and an own goal

West Ham started brightly and could have taken the lead in the opening stages. Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek both came close to scoring, forcing City’s defense into early action. However, Manchester City weathered the storm and benefitted from a stroke of luck when Vladimir Coufal inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, gifting the home side a 1-0 lead.

Haaland and Savinho shine

Despite their early misfortunes, West Ham remained dangerous. Crysencio Summerville troubled City’s defense, but a promising attack was halted due to an alleged foul on Manuel Akanji. The visitors’ missed opportunities proved costly, as Erling Haaland doubled City’s lead just before halftime. Savinho, building on his strong performance against Leicester, provided the assist with a perfectly timed pass.

City dominates the second half

West Ham’s intensity waned after the break, allowing Manchester City to take full control. Haaland struck again midway through the second half, converting another assist from Savinho to make it 3-0. The Norwegian striker, who had endured a four-game scoring drought, now has three goals in his last two matches, signaling a return to form. City sealed the result with a fourth goal from Phil Foden, who capitalized on a disorganized West Ham defense. The Hammers, who had conceded five goals to Liverpool earlier in the week, found themselves on the receiving end of another heavy defeat at the Etihad.

Late consolation for West Ham

West Ham managed to pull one back in the closing minutes through Nicolas Fullkrug, but the goal came too late to influence the outcome. The loss leaves Julen Lopetegui’s side in 13th place, struggling to find consistency in the Premier League.

City climbs the table

For Manchester City, the victory marked a significant step forward. Now sixth in the Premier League standings, City appears to be climbing out of their recent slump. With Haaland regaining his scoring touch and Savinho emerging as a key playmaker, Pep Guardiola’s team is rediscovering their rhythm just in time for the second half of the season. While there is still work to be done to challenge the league’s top teams, City’s back-to-back wins have brought renewed optimism. For West Ham, however, the result highlights the challenges they face as they look to steer clear of the relegation battle.