Erling Haaland showcased his goal-scoring prowess as Manchester City defeated Chelsea 4-2 in front of over 70,000 fans at Ohio Stadium. The Norwegian striker, who recently recovered from a muscle injury, made a stunning return by scoring a hat trick, leading his team to a comfortable victory over their Premier League rivals.
Pep Guardiola's side wasted no time asserting their dominance in Columbus, Ohio. Haaland, serving as City's captain for the night, scored twice within the first five minutes. His first goal came from the penalty spot after just four minutes, and less than a minute later, he capitalized on a defensive mistake by Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo to score his second, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea, under the leadership of their new manager Enzo Maresca, struggled throughout the first half, with their best chance falling to Christopher Nkunku. However, Manchester City's second-choice goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega, made a crucial save to deny Nkunku and keep his team in control.
The second half saw Manchester City extend their lead even further. Oscar Bobb added a third goal shortly after the break, and Haaland completed his hat trick with a clinical left-footed finish following a well-executed play initiated by James McAtee in midfield.
Despite the deficit, Chelsea managed to claw back two goals through former City player Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke, preventing what could have been an even more embarrassing defeat. However, the result served as a stark reminder for Maresca of the challenges he faces as he works to rebuild the Chelsea squad.
Manchester City will now turn their attention to the Community Shield, where they are set to face Manchester United at Wembley. Following that, they will meet Chelsea again on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, setting the stage for another intense encounter between these two English football giants.
