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Manchester City survived a stunning Sunderland fightback to claim a 5-3 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.
City went ahead after just nine minutes through Enzo Fernandez, whose cleverly taken free-kick beat the Sunderland defence and marked his first goal since his £125 million move from Chelsea.
Sunderland responded three minutes later when Brian Brobbey converted Enzo Le Fée’s pass, before Rayan Cherki restored City’s advantage in the 29th minute with a composed finish.
Brobbey struck again four minutes later, finishing Thomas Meunier’s square pass to make it 2-2. City eventually regained the lead two minutes before half-time when Antoine Semenyo fired home after Sunderland failed to deal with a cross from the right.
Semenyo doubled his tally 12 minutes into the second half, drilling a left-footed effort into the far corner to put City 4-2 ahead and give Enzo Maresca’s side some breathing space.
Sunderland refused to fold, with Brobbey completing his hat-trick in the 59th minute after Nilson Angulo’s cross found him inside the area. The Dutch striker became the first Sunderland player to score a Premier League hat-trick since Jermain Defoe in 2016.
City were forced to withstand further pressure as Sunderland threatened an equaliser, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making a costly error that nearly allowed the visitors to level after a high ball into the box.
The champions eventually settled the contest nine minutes from time when Erling Haaland slid in at the back post to convert Josko Gvardiol’s cross. The goal initially faced an offside check but was allowed to stand after VAR review.
The victory moved City three points clear at the top of the Premier League, with five wins from five matches and 13 goals scored. Haaland has also now scored against every Premier League side he has faced.
Despite conceding three goals at home, City maintained their 100 per cent league record going into the international break, while Sunderland left the Etihad without a point despite Brobbey’s three-goal performance.
