By Sulaimon Jamiu
Erling Haaland hit a second half hat-trick as Manchester City fought back from two goals down to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace.
The Norwegian talisman scored three times in 19 minutes to claim his first hat-trick in English football, as the defending champions again came from behind to avoid defeat.
A John Stones own goal and Joachim Andersen’s towering header had put Palace in control at half-time, but Bernardo Silva reduced the deficit with his 50th goal for the Club before Haaland’s heroics turned the game on its head to send City top of the table ahead of Arsenal’s meeting with Fulham.
There was an element of misfortune about the opener, with Stones caught unawares as the cross flicked off both Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker before bouncing into his leg, but the same could not be said as Palace doubled their lead in emphatic fashion in the 21st minute.
Despite enjoying 75% possession in the first half, the hosts failed to register a shot on target, but that all changed in the second 45 minutes when Palace were forced to defend for long periods.
The fightback was instigated by the impressive Bernardo, who drove inside Tyrick Mitchell and beat Vicente Guaita with a low strike that deflected off Jeffrey Schlupp.
Haaland opened his account nine minutes later, nodding in the leveller from Phil Foden’s pinpoint delivery and the 22-year-old quickly doubled his tally when he tapped in at the far post to finish off a well-worked corner routine that put Guardiola’s side in front.
From there, there only looked like being one winner and Haaland made sure of the three points with the most impressive of his three goals, collecting Ilkay Gundogan’s precise through ball and holding off the attentions of Joel Ward before calmly slotting into the bottom left corner to complete a magnificent turnaround.
