OHIO, USA: Erling Haaland stole the spotlight with a spectacular hat trick as Manchester City defeated Chelsea 4-2 in an English club football friendly held in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday. The match, part of a pre-season tour for both teams, showcased Haaland’s exceptional form and the attacking prowess of the reigning Premier League champions.
Haaland’s performance was electric from the start. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring with a penalty in the fourth minute and followed up with another goal just 17 seconds later, capitalizing on a mistake by Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo to make it 2-0. His early goals set the tone for City’s dominance, with the team scoring two goals in quick succession both in the first and second halves.
Oscar Bobb extended City’s lead in the 55th minute with a well-placed left-footed shot, further cementing City’s control. Haaland completed his hat trick shortly after in the 56th minute, taking advantage of a turnover to slot in his third goal from the edge of the box, making it 4-0.
Chelsea managed to pull back two goals through Raheem Sterling in the 59th minute and Noni Madueke in the 89th, but the late surge was insufficient to alter the outcome. The match served as a crucial pre-season test for both teams ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season, with Manchester City set to face Chelsea again on August 18.
In another high-profile pre-season friendly, Liverpool defeated Manchester United 3-0 in Columbia, South Carolina, before a crowd of 77,559. Fabio Carvalho opened the scoring for Liverpool, followed by Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas, who sealed the win with a goal off a rebound. Both matches provided a glimpse into the competitive nature of the upcoming Premier League season and highlighted the form of some of English football’s top talents.
