Man City beat Sunderland 5-3 to lead Premier League
Man City beat Sunderland 5-3 at the Etihad to go three points clear at the Premier League summit, with Brobbey scoring a hat-trick in a remarkable eight-goal thriller.
· Kickhell
Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 5-3 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, maintaining a perfect five-game winning start to the season.
Enzo Fernández opened the scoring with his first City goal after a quick counter from a Sunderland corner, but Brian Brobbey equalised within three minutes by lifting the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma following Enzo Le Fee's through pass.
Rayan Cherki restored City's lead, converting after Iliman Ndiaye forced a turnover in the final third, only for Brobbey to sweep in Thomas Meunier's cross and level again — a goal that survived a lengthy VAR check confirming he was just onside.
Antoine Semenyo then struck twice either side of half-time to put City 4-2 ahead. His first came when Marc Guéhi's header at the back post fell to him before the break; his second came early in the second half after he pounced on poor defending.
Brobbey completed his hat-trick two minutes after Semenyo's fourth, turning in Nilson Angulo's header from close range to pull Sunderland back to 4-3.
Erling Haaland settled the contest with six minutes remaining, sliding home a cross from Joško Gvardiol. An initial offside flag was overturned by VAR, confirming City's fifth.
The goal meant Haaland has now scored against all 25 sides he has faced in the Premier League. Substitute Nico O'Reilly was denied a sixth by goalkeeper Robin Roefs, while Dan Ballard hit the post late on for Sunderland.
Manager Enzo Maresca becomes the sixth manager to win his first five Premier League games in charge of a new club, joining a list that includes his predecessor Pep Guardiola. City return to Premier League action on 11 October at Anfield, before hosting Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on 14 October.
