Erling Haaland makes history as Manchester City hold off charging Fulham in wild 5-4 victory
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Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- Erling Haaland reached 100 Premier League goals, fuelling Manchester City's title chase.
- Man City beat Fulham 5-4 after a comeback, with Phil Foden scoring twice and holding second place.
- Fulham rallied with three second-half goals, but Josko Gvardiol's late clearance secured City's win.
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LONDON – Erling Haaland said he was “proud” to make history as the Manchester City striker became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals in Tuesday’s pulsating 5-4 win against Fulham.
The Norwegian’s clinical finish in the first half at Craven Cottage took him to his century in just 111 league appearances for City.
The 25-year-old broke the previous record set by former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers star Alan Shearer, who took 124 matches to reach 100 goals.
“It’s huge and I’m really proud. Of course it’s a massive thing, 100 club is a nice thing to be in and I’m happy,” Haaland said.
“I knew about the record, that’s what I tried to do. I try to help the team scoring goals, that’s my job.”
Haaland, who signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, had failed to score in his previous three games against Newcastle, Bayer Leverkusen and Leeds United.
He broke that mini-drought with the latest milestone in his glittering City career.
Of Haaland’s 100 goals, 71 came with his left foot and 17 with his head.
“When you’re a striker for Man City you should be delivering great numbers,” he added.
“That’s my job, people should criticise me if I don’t and that’s normally what they do. I should deliver.”
He produced a sumptuous finish to put City ahead in the 17th minute against Fulham, giving him 15 league goals this term and 20 in all competitions.
Jeremy Doku provided the assist with a precise cut-back and Haaland timed his run perfectly to unleash a ferocious blast that whistled past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno from 12 yards.
“I think if you’re sitting at home now you enjoyed that game. It was a crazy game, nine goals is a lot. In the end, we win and we’re happy but it’s not the best win,” Haaland also said.
“It’s important, (league leaders) Arsenal came here and won here. Fulham are a great team but we shouldn’t think too much about Arsenal. We should focus on ourselves, today wasn’t good enough and we know this. We need to improve as a team and that’s what we’ll do.”
Haaland still has a long way to go to break Shearer’s most significant record, with the former England captain holding the Premier League’s all-time scoring mark on 260 goals.
“I know about it but I don’t think too much about it,” he said.
City boss Pep Guardiola had only praise for his star man.
“If you told me when he arrived that he’d score 100 goals in 111 games, I’d say, ‘Are you sure?’ The numbers are insane. Today he was unbelievable,” he said.
“It’s incredible, impressive. He was outstanding, unbelievable. Hopefully, he’s starving hungry to continue with this club to make more and more goals. I’m happy for him, happy for the team to deliver him this day.”
While Haaland stole the show, Phil Foden bagged a double, Tijjani Reijnders also struck and Sander Berge scored an own goal for the other four City goals.
Emile Smith Rowe scored in first-half stoppage time for Fulham, who were 3-0 before his goal.
City then looked to be heading for a rout at Craven Cottage with a gaping 5-1 lead but the home side roared back with three second-half goals – a brace from Samuel Chukwueze and one from Alex Iwobi – for a thrilling finish. AFP, REUTERS
Manchester City's Erling Haaland scores their first goal and his 100th Premier League goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
