Manchester City 3–0 West Ham United
- Erling Haaland – 5’, 69’
- Tijjani Reijnders – 38’
Manchester City produced a confident and controlled display to defeat West Ham United 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium, underlining their authority in the Premier League title race. From the opening minutes, the hosts imposed their tempo and never allowed West Ham to settle into the contest.
The breakthrough arrived early. In the 5th minute, Erling Haaland reacted quickest inside the penalty area after a saved effort, calmly converting from close range to give City an immediate advantage. The early goal set the tone, with City dominating possession and circulating the ball patiently across midfield.
West Ham attempted to remain compact, but sustained pressure eventually told. Just before the interval, City doubled their lead through Tijjani Reijnders, who finished a well-worked move with precision, rewarding the home side’s fluid passing and movement.
In the second half, Manchester City continued to control proceedings, limiting West Ham to sporadic counter-attacks. The decisive third goal arrived in the 69th minute when Haaland struck again, finishing confidently to claim his second goal of the match and effectively end the contest.
Defensively, City were equally impressive, maintaining a clean sheet and restricting West Ham to very few clear opportunities. The visitors struggled to create chances, finding it difficult to bypass City’s organised pressing and disciplined back line.
The result moves Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table, reinforcing their status as strong title contenders as the season approaches its midpoint. For West Ham, the defeat highlights ongoing challenges and the need for improvement, particularly in attacking output.
Haaland’s Record-Breaking Form
With his two goals today, Erling Haaland has further cemented his legacy in English football. His opening strike marked his 103rd Premier League goal, achieved in a fraction of the games required by previous legends. By surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s total league tally (103), Haaland continues to rewrite the record books, maintaining a scoring rate that keeps him firmly at the top of this season’s Golden Boot standings.
