Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland celebrates a aim with Kevin De Bruyne within the FA Cup fifth spherical match towards Luton Town on February 27, 2024
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Erling Haaland roared again to his finest type with a five-goal salvo as Manchester City thumped Luton Town 6-2 at Kenilworth Road to succeed in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Tuesday.
Luton had no reply to the marauding Norwegian who bagged his eighth City hat-trick earlier than halftime after which scored twice extra after the break to kill off a stirring Luton revival.
The 23-year-old Haaland’s first 4 targets had been all created by Kevin De Bruyne. Mateo Kovacic additionally bought on the scoresheet for holders City who’re unbeaten in 18 video games in all competitions.
Luton did threaten an unlikely comeback when Jordan Clark discovered the highest nook with a chic effort on the stroke of halftime and netted once more early within the second half to make it 3-2. But a robust City aspect immediately discovered one other gear to cruise into the hat for the final eight.
First since George Best
Haaland grew to become the primary top-flight participant to attain 5 targets in an FA Cup tie since George Best struck six for Manchester United towards Northampton Town in 1970.
The solely blemish for City, who face Manchester United within the Premier league on Sunday, was an damage to Jack Grealish who was pressured off within the opening interval.
Haaland had scored solely 5 targets in his earlier 11 appearances for City — a spell interrupted by a foot damage that some advised had taken the sting off his recreation.
But he answered any doubters in emphatic style with a sensational show of centre ahead play.
De Bruyne genius
City meant enterprise from the beginning and went forward within the fourth minute as Matheus Nunes performed in De Bruyne who reduce an ideal move for Haaland to fireplace previous Tim Krul.
De Bruyne performed Haaland via within the 18th minute to make it 2-0 and Haaland’s hat-trick aim was nearly a carbon copy as he once more surged on to a De Bruyne move to dink a shot over Krul.
Clark gave the house followers some cheer when he curled an ideal shot previous Stefan Ortega and Luton punished City for some slack defending simply after the restart with Clark ending nicely.
But Haaland tapped in a De Bruyne move a few minutes later after which grabbed his fifth from Bernardo Silva’s help earlier than being substituted, a lot to Luton’s aid.
Second-tier leaders Leicester City joined Pep Guardiola’s aspect within the quarter-finals as they beat Premier League Bournemouth 1-0.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
