Haaland’s Historic Season Continues Despite Setback

Although Erling Haaland couldn’t secure a third consecutive hat-trick, Manchester City rallied from behind to defeat Brentford 2-1. Even so, Haaland etched his name further into Premier League history.

City faced challenges as Brentford, led by Thomas Frank, put up a strong fight at the Etihad Stadium. Wissa struck early, scoring just 22 seconds into the match after exploiting a defensive lapse—marking the fastest away goal ever at this venue.

Brentford continued to trouble the home team, but Haaland showcased his scoring prowess by converting a pass from Kevin De Bruyne, finding the net with a deflected shot.

The match shifted as City adopted a long-ball strategy. Goalkeeper Ederson identified a key vulnerability in Brentford’s defense, launching a ball that allowed Haaland to exploit a one-on-one opportunity against Ethan Pinnock. Demonstrating his strength and speed, Haaland finished with finesse.

Guardiola praised Haaland, stating, “He is an incredible asset for us. Isolating him against a defender is a tactic we have to utilize more.”

Nine goals. We are in the first half of Matchweek 4… and Erling Haaland has NINE goals already this season.

Peacock | #MCIBRE pic.twitter.com/HI5LbATcLp

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 14, 2024

Despite his efforts, Flekken and Brentford’s defense prevented Haaland from claiming a matchball to add to his previous two from matches against Ipswich Town and West Ham.

However, after breaking the single-season scoring record last season, Haaland now holds the record for the most goals scored in the first four matches of a season, with nine—surpassing Wayne Rooney’s eight from the 2011/12 season.

Jack Grealish remarked, “It’s incredible. Nine goals already! That surpasses my best Premier League season tally, and he has achieved it in just four matches. He’s an extraordinary player and a hardworking individual. He truly deserves every accolade.”

“He’s a goal-scoring machine, and my admiration for him knows no bounds.”