Haaland on fire: hat-trick amidst crazy comeback for Manchester City

3pm is the hallowed slot in English soccer. The time when games are MEANT to be played. During his six years in Manchester, Pep Guardiola has been in charge of his team 55 times in that slot, English soccer’s classic, with a more than favorable record: only two defeats. Both against Crystal Palace. The Londoners appeared to have the measure of the Mancunians. First with Roy Hodgson and later with Patrick Vieira. And on Saturday afternoon, the scene was reminiscent of the Eagles’ last visit to the Etihad Stadium.

Palace straight into the lead against Man City

Three minutes it took Palace to open the scoring. From a free-kick, the ball bounced off De Bruyne, Walker and Stones. And went straight into the net. Deja vu. Less than 20 minutes later, nerves spread throughout the stands and could also be felt on the pitch after City’s next error. Another ball in from the right, from a corner this time, was finished off by Andersen. 0-2.

For the second match in a row, Manchester City found themselves down by two goals. Their offensive last Sunday in Newcastle had the desired effect, but they struggled here to produce something to turn the game around, with solid organization from the visitors shutting them down. But they hadn’t reckoned with what Erling Haaland was going to do in the second half...

Haaland smashes Crystal Palace

There was nothing Crystal Palace could do to stop the Norwegian striker. Though it was Bernardo Silva who got on the scoresheet first, to instil some confidence in a team that was beginning to get frustrated. He received from Rodrigo at the top of the area, in the 52nd minute, and drove in search of a hole to shoot. He found it and fired home.

Then we only had to wait ten minutes for Erling Haaland’s brutal performance to begin. The former Borussia Dortmund player scored his first goal at the Etihad Stadium. Foden found a loose ball in the box and laid it on for his teammate to level the game. Haaland once again found himself in the right place at the right time in the 70th minute. Julián Álvarez, Bernardo and Stones moved the ball inside the area, but it was the former Dortmund player who got the final touch.

Erling is 22 years old. And against Crystal Palace he achieved the 13th hat-trick of his career. Savage stuff. Bernardo led a counterattack that ended with Haaland receiving the ball facing Vicente Guaita and the Palace players bearing down on him. Ward threw himself on top of the Norwegian... and simply bounced off when he hit him. 4-2. Pure power. Overwhelming. Terrifying.