LEEDS UNITED 1-2 SOUTHAMPTON REPORT
BY NR.BALOCH
AP/MANCHESTER, England With four goals, including a hat-trick in the first half, Erling Haaland helped Manchester City defeat Wolverhampton 5-1 and maintain control of the Premier League title chase on Saturday.
With yet another impressive haul from Haaland, Pep Guardiola’s club responded impressively to first-place Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth earlier in the day.
The Norway forward added a fourth goal with a curling effort after scoring twice from the penalty spot in the first half, either side of a powerful header.
Julian Alvarez, a replacement, also scored, but Hwang Hee-chan gave Wolves some solace.
With the win, City, who is vying for a record fourth consecutive league title, closed the gap on the Gunners to just one point. Arsenal has two games remaining, whereas City has three.
Haaland’s outstanding performance increased his season total to 36 in all competitions and put him five points ahead of his closest rivals in the Premier League Golden Boot standings at 25. In City colors, it was his ninth hat trick.
There wasn’t much of a way out for the Wolves players, though manager Gary O’Neil might have been happy that his touchline ban kept him out of sight.
Although there was disagreement over the first penalty after 12 minutes, City’s resolve was evident from the start, and it was not surprising that the hosts quickly took the lead.
Rayan Ait-Nouri tried to clear as Josko Gvardiol was preparing to shoot, and the two clashed. Referee Craig Pawson gave the spot kick, which Haaland comfortably put away, though the call might have gone either way.
With the help of some shoddy Wolves defense, City quickly had additional opportunities when Kevin De Bruyne missed a shot and Jose Sa, the Wolves goalkeeper, blocked Haaland’s header. Phil Foden dribbled through the area, but at the crucial time, he lost control.
In the 35th minute, Rodri recovered possession, carried on with his run, and passed to De Bruyne before lofting a cross to the back post, where Haaland soared wonderfully to head past Sa. This was the inevitable second goal.
After being hauled down by Nelson Semedo, the Norwegian completed his trifecta in first-half stoppage time with a second penalty.
Despite evaluating the challenge on the pitchside monitor, Pawson was not persuaded this time and pointed to the location.
Before the half, Wolves didn’t do much, but after 53 minutes, against the flow of play, they scored one.
After overcoming a shoulder injury to begin play, City goalie Ederson Moraes palmed a cross from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde into Hwang’s path, and the South Korean put the ball into the net.
But, Haaland quickly and decisively crushed any dreams Wolves may have had of mounting a comeback.
From just inside the area, the attacker latched onto a long pass from Foden and cut inside to unleash a fierce shot into the far corner.
Five minutes from time, Alvarez beat Sa once more, and Haaland came close to scoring a fifth moments later when he forced a superb save from the goalkeeper after also stopping Mateo Kovavic.