Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the new Premier League season with a 2-1 victory at home to Brentford on Saturday.
Thomas Frank’s side stunned the hosts with a goal almost straight from kick-off but they were ultimately undone by the ruthlessness of Erling Haaland, who took his tally for the season to nine from just four outings.
The champions are now the only team to have taken 12 points from 12 so far this term after Liverpool faltered against Nottingham Forest.
How the game unfolded
With only 22 seconds on the clock, Brentford took a shock lead. John Stones sliced a clearance from a Keane Lewis-Potter header across the six-yard box, and Yoane Wissa popped up to nod the loose ball into the back of the net – the earliest home goal City have ever conceded in the Premier League.
Brentford went close to doubling their lead shortly after when Bryan Mbeumo broke free, but he was pegged back by the retreating Rico Lewis. Ederson also had to be alert to deny a first-time strike from Nathan Collins as the visitors’ fast start continued.
With their first opportunity of note, City pulled level. Kevin De Bruyne instinctively poked the ball into the path of Haaland, who despite facing away from goal, swivelled and found the far corner with a shot which deflected off the leg of Ethan Pinnock.
City were starting to find their groove again up against a deep Brentford block, with De Bruyne lashing a strike from 25 yards narrowly wide, and it wasn’t long before they were ahead – a long ball from Ederson sailed over the Brentford backline and Haaland bumped off the challenge of Pinnock before dinking the ball past goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Source – Man City 2-1 Brentford: Player ratings as brilliant Haaland inspires comeback win (90min.com)
