Haaland also scores in the FA Cup and has a sixth (!) hat-trick


Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 8:38 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 21:11

Manchester City are quarter-finalists in the FA Cup. The number two in the Premier League was 6-0 too strong for Burnley, the leader in the Championship, on Saturday at its own Etihad Stadium. Erling Braut Haaland scored for the first time in the English Cup, breaking the 40-goal mark and scoring his sixth hat-trick of the season. It was a special reunion for Vincent Kompany, because the Burnley manager played for Manchester City between 2008 and 2019.

Guardiola made seven changes from Tuesday’s 7-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Stefan Ortega replaced Ederson under the crossbar and Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte returned at the back. Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji therefore started on the bench. John Stones made way for Rico Lewis in midfield. Julián Álvarez, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden returned to the forefront and together with Kevin De Bruyne had to provide the supply towards Haaland.

Burnley did not intend to defend en masse and even went on the offensive every now and then. Nathan Tella slipped in a promising position, but Ortega still forced a save. Shortly afterwards, Ameen Al Dakhil was unable to reach the ball properly to hit the far post. Manchester City was not very dominant before the break, but struck twice hard between the 32nd and 35th minutes. Álvarez put away Haaland and the attacker managed to outwit the outgoing goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell with a beautiful punt from just inside the box: 1-0. Haaland made it 2-0 when he waited for a cross from Foden to roll in front of his left leg, then fired into the left corner. Burnley showed bravery, but faced a deficit at half time.

Haaland was stopped ten minutes after the break by the alert Peacock-Farrell. A few minutes later, the Norwegian top scorer hit the right side of the box after Foden had hit the post. After a smooth attack from Manchester City, Álvarez simply tapped in the 4-0. Guardiola had seen enough of Haaland and took him off prematurely, just like against Leipzig, after the striker signed his sixth hat-trick of the year. His replacement Cole Palmer made it 5-0 on the scoreboard from a rebound and the excellent Álvarez cut Al Dakhil in the box and then shot high into the goal: 6-0. Manchester City played the cup game quietly and goes into the international break with another monster score.