Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland scores his facet’s opening aim in the course of the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis at Stamford Bridge stadium in London.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Make it 91 objectives in 100 video games for Erling Haaland at Manchester Metropolis.
The striker marked his a hundredth look for the membership by netting the primary aim in a 2-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday as Metropolis started its marketing campaign for a fifth straight Premier League title.
It additionally took his tally to 5 objectives in three league openers since becoming a member of Metropolis in 2022 and confirmed that the Norwegian is absolutely rested after a summer time with out worldwide soccer.
“I had a sense that he feels higher than final season at this stage,” Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola mentioned. “He feels good, and the aim was magnificent.”
Haaland gave his group the lead within the 18th minute and Mateo Kovacic added a strike from simply outdoors the world within the 84th to make it a harsh welcome for brand new Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca in his first recreation in cost.
Additionally Sunday, Brentford beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after benefitting from a disputed refereeing choice within the first half.
At Stamford Bridge, Haaland’s opener got here when he acquired the ball on the sting of the world and lower between Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella earlier than dinking the ball previous Robert Sanchez.
“I knew precisely what to do, I believe it was a extremely good aim,” Haaland mentioned.
It was the type of scientific center-forward play that Chelsea lacked for a lot of final season and once more on Sunday regardless of one other summer time of heavy spending.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson had a aim disallowed simply earlier than halftime after needlessly straying offside after which hit a close-range volley straight at Metropolis goalkeeper Ederson within the 61st earlier than being taken off for 18-year-old newcomer Marc Guiu.
“The efficiency was there however we didn’t take the possibilities,” Maresca mentioned. “In all probability the large distinction was contained in the field.”
Nonetheless, there have been indicators of encouragement for Maresca, the previous Man Metropolis assistant below Pep Guardiola. Whereas none of Chelsea’s 9 summer time signings began the sport, Romeo Lavia made his first league begin after lacking most of final season with accidents and impressed in a midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo.
Winger Pedro Neto got here off the bench within the 59th to make his debut after a big-money transfer from Wolves and almost scored immediately as he was inches from attending to Enzo Fernandez’s low cross towards the far publish.
However Kovacic, who began instead of the injured Rodri, doubled the lead towards his former membership when he intercepted a excessive ball up the pitch and strove ahead earlier than launching a shot that snuck in through the publish.
Brentford did not want Ivan Toney to start out the season with a win, and will must do with out the England striker sooner or later as nicely.
Toney was not noted of the squad due to what Brentford supervisor Thomas Frank described as “switch curiosity” within the ahead, however Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa scored for the hosts.
“I believe each single time Ivan hasn’t performed Wissa has stepped up and I believe he did once more in the present day,” Frank mentioned. “Bryan began final season incredible and is now on top of things once more.”
Wissa bundled the winner into the online within the 76th minute after Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson obtained his fingers to a deflected shot by Nathan Collins however pushed it onto the legs of the Brentford ahead.
Mbeumo opened the scoring within the twenty ninth earlier than Palace equalized by way of an own-goal by Ethan Pinnock.
Palace was aggrieved, although, as Mbeumo’s aim got here simply minutes after the guests had a aim disallowed on the different finish.
Eberechi Eze caught Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken out with a long-distance free kick from the suitable, hitting a shot straight into the online through the close to publish when Brentford was anticipating a supply into the field. Nevertheless, referee Sam Barrott whistled for a foul on Palace midfielder Will Hughes as he jostled for place in a scrum of gamers on the sting of the world. Whereas the choice enraged Palace supervisor Oliver Glasner, VAR couldn’t evaluation it as Barrott’s whistle got here earlier than the ball had gone into the online.
“I used to be instructed that he blew too early and made the error,” Glasner mentioned. “I believe everybody was stunned the referee whistled so early. We thought it was a aim, however the guidelines are that when the referee whistles the aim doesn’t rely. It’s what it’s.”
