Manchester City 4-1 Ipswich Town. Erling Haaland delivered a hat-trick as Manchester City demonstrated the challenges of Premier League life with a commanding win over Ipswich at the Etihad Stadium.
Ipswich, making their return to the top flight after a 22-year absence, started their match against the defending champions with a flourish. Sammie Szmodics scored on his full debut, slotting a shot through Ederson’s legs just seven minutes in.
However, Manchester City quickly asserted their dominance with three goals in a blistering four-minute period. Haaland equalized with a penalty awarded after a VAR review overturned an initial decision by referee Sam Allison, who had ruled that Savinho had dived.
Kevin De Bruyne then took advantage of a mistake by Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, scoring from close range. Haaland made it 3-1 shortly after, rounding Muric to score once more.
City could have extended their lead further, hitting the woodwork twice. Ipswich had a potential penalty claim turned down when Leif Davis was seemingly fouled by Savinho inside the area.
The second half brought a moment of joy for the home fans when Ilkay Gundogan made his return to Manchester City after completing his move from Barcelona, earning a warm reception.
As the match approached its end, Haaland completed his hat-trick with a precise low drive from distance. This result keeps Manchester City perfect this season, having won both of their opening games, while Ipswich is still in search of their first points following a tough start that included their opener against Liverpool.
City’s performance exemplified their typical dominance over newly promoted sides. Despite conceding early, Pep Guardiola’s team responded with three rapid goals, effectively quashing any hopes Ipswich had of an upset.
Before kickoff, Manchester City proudly displayed their Premier League trophy and celebrated their achievement of winning four consecutive titles with a banner. Their pursuit of a fifth title has started strongly with back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Ipswich.
Haaland, who had a summer off while many of his teammates participated in international tournaments, looked exceptionally sharp. The Norwegian striker, who has won the Golden Boot in the last two seasons, has already scored four goals in two games.
For Ipswich, it was a challenging day but one filled with valuable lessons. Even the most hopeful fans would have recognized the difficulty of taking points at the Etihad Stadium, where City had been unbeaten in their last 44 matches across all competitions.
Despite the heavy defeat, there were positives, such as Szmodics’s early goal, which hinted at his potential value to Ipswich’s survival bid. The team will need to improve their focus and defense, having conceded three goals in quick succession. Their next match, against Fulham, will be crucial as they aim to secure their first points of the season.
source – BBC
