Man City Clinch 5-4 Win Over Fulham as Haaland Reaches 100 Goals

Post by : Mina Rahman

Manchester City looked set for an easy result at Craven Cottage, taking a commanding 5-1 lead against Fulham early in the second half. Goals from Erling Haaland, Phil Foden (who scored twice), Tijjani Reijnders, and an unfortunate own goal by Sander Berge put City in a strong position.

However, Fulham staged a remarkable comeback, ignited by substitute Samuel Chukwueze, who netted three goals in rapid succession, almost leveling the score in injury time. Ultimately, City held on to secure a 5-4 win, clinching all three points in one of the most exhilarating matches of the Premier League season.

Haaland's accomplishment was historic, reaching 100 Premier League goals in merely 111 appearances—the fastest any player has achieved this milestone. Alongside his goal, he also provided two vital assists. Reflecting on the game, Haaland commented, "I was almost on the score sheet right before they made it 5-3; that’s the unpredictability of football."

Pep Guardiola noted the tense finish with his trademark humor, saying, "I’m getting old, and the players don’t respect me! They really shouldn’t treat their manager like that. This is just the reality of this league."

With this victory, Manchester City remains two points behind league leaders Arsenal, which could widen depending on the Gunners' next match against Brentford.

This fixture marked Fulham’s first top-flight game with nine or more goals since a 7-2 defeat against West Ham in 1968, and their first home game of such nature since 1965. Under Guardiola’s leadership, City has now registered five or more goals in matches a total of 41 times out of 356 Premier League encounters. This is also the first instance where City won a game conceding four goals since December 1957, marking the sixth match involving City with a goal tally of at least nine, a record just outdone by Manchester United with seven matches.

Despite the offensive fireworks, City’s defensive frailties were laid bare. Arsenal has allowed just seven goals across 13 matches, while City has conceded 16 in 14 outings. Ex-striker Clinton Morrison pointed out these issues, stating, "Manchester City has defensive problems… you wouldn’t see Arsenal concede like that with a 5-1 lead."

Nonetheless, Guardiola remains hopeful, focusing on the positives. "Every match shows a new team for some players. There were many encouraging signs in our first-half performance, netting five goals and playing well," he remarked. He implied that these defensive scares could foster greater focus and resilience in upcoming games.

Manchester City’s encounter with Fulham will be remembered for its thrilling offensive display; yet it also serves as a reminder that defending must improve if they wish to mount a serious challenge for the title.