Aston Villa may not have been able to stop Erling Haaland, but Steven Gerrard’s side prevented the striker from running amok and Manchester City took the win. Stopping Haaland was a daunting prospect in itself, but given the way City have eviscerated opponents of late, it represented an impressive reply from Villa, who equalized through Leon Bailey’s wonderful first-time finish.
When Haaland scored his 10th goal in six games five minutes into the second half, it looked like City would deepen Gerrard’s misery, but Villa rallied to claim a point. In the end it was Pep Guardiola, in khaki cargo pants and white sneakers, who stood frustrated on the touchline.
To be fair, City should have been out of sight. Haaland was twice repelled by Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez, Ilkay Gündogan failed to latch on to Kevin De Bruyne’s poor cross from the right and the Belgian then sent a clear free-kick that hit the crossbar after Tyrone Mings hooked Haaland on the rim. from the D while the striker waded towards the goal.
City missed two more chances in the final. First Rodri sent a shot whistling off the post and then a minute later substitute Riyad Mahrez drilled agonizingly wide. But Villa were upset that Philippe Coutinho had a potential winner ruled out as referee Simon Hooper blew the whistle after spotting that assistant referee Adrian Holmes had flagged for offside. Many of the City players had stopped when the ball beat Ederson.
Haaland started this game with aspirations of becoming the first player in 76 years to score a hat-trick in a third consecutive top-flight game, but for a long time City could not fuel the Haaland machine. After four minutes, Kyle Walker skated forward on the overlap but fired a shot over the top rather than square to Haaland, who was lurking to his left.
It seemed like a stupid decision considering six of Haaland’s nine goals before the kick came from inside the six-yard box. Walker held up his palms in lamentation and another apology soon came to Haaland when the returning De Bruyne, who replaced Julian Alvarez in City’s only change, curled in a deep pass that gave no chance in front of the City. Haaland finished the first half with 10 touches to his name.
Regardless, City were passing, gaining possession and when Ollie Watkins was able to hold onto the ball and win a free-kick for Villa, it looked like cause for celebration. It was a generally demoralizing existence for Villa until seven minutes before the break when Ashley Young, who replaced the injured Matty Cash at right-back, came to the fore in a tussle with De Bruyne as City looked to dig up the field in versus.
Young snuffed out the danger and found Douglas Luiz, the subject of three deadline day bids from Arsenal, who slotted Watkins in behind John Stones. Watkins took a couple of steps over and sent a low diagonal shot at goal that Stones was able to tip wide for a corner. Just as Villa seemed to have figured out how to stifle City, described as a superpower by Gerrard, they were guilty of presenting world football’s sharpest marksman with the most routine finishes.
Haaland’s goal was simple. He was left unmarked to power De Bruyne’s curling cross into the net five minutes into the second half. Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne exchanged passes down the right and the latter sent in a cross from the right. The ball flew over Martínez and Konsa, too, was caught under the ball and Haaland side-footed it at the back post.
Erling Haaland has now scored 10 goals in his first six league games Picture: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images
City should have put the game to bed, but when Bailey equalized they couldn’t argue they hadn’t been warned. Before the hour Watkins played in Jacob Ramsey who, but for his slightly heavy touch and Ederson’s alertness as he rushed to pounce on the ball, might have scored. Bailey deflected the half-volley wide soon after and then with 74 minutes on the clock equalized. Ramsey shuffled down the left and crossed for the former Bayer Leverkusen winger to curl the ball into the corner.
Even when things were going badly for City, Haaland would emerge from the rubble. De Bruyne had an effort on goal that crashed into the Norwegian’s back, but seconds after the striker had cursed himself for getting in the way, he burst into life as a triangle of Villa shirts fell asleep.
Haaland controlled the ball and flicked it deftly into the path of De Bruyne, who fired a shot narrowly wide. “It’s going to be fascinating how it works because even when he’s not well or off the accelerator, he’s still a big threat,” Gerrard said of Haaland.