5 – 3
“Enzo Fernández curls home a free kick after Dayann Méthalie's early foul on Ndiaye, giving City an early lead.”
“Antoine Semenyo restores City's two-goal lead with a composed left-footed finish, his second of the match.”
Pivotal“Brian Brobbey completes his hat-trick from close range to pull Sunderland back within one goal at 4-3, setting up a tense finish.”
Pivotal“Erling Haaland pokes home from point-blank range moments after Malick Fofana's shot was saved, restoring City's two-goal cushion and killing off Sunderland's comeback hopes.”
Pivotal
Manchester City
Sunderland
Manchester City won this one on the back of individual quality up front rather than defensive control, with Sunderland's Brian Brobbey repeatedly dragging his side level only for City's array of attackers to find an answer. Rúben Dias and company were shaky at the back - Sunderland racked up 9 shots on target and 8 big chances to City's 3 - but Pep Guardiola's side made their moments count, scoring five goals from just 16 attempts. Erling Haaland's late close-range finish in the 81st minute finally settled matters after Sunderland had clawed back to within a goal at 4-3, capping a breathless second-half surge. For City, this keeps the pressure on at the top of the table despite defensive frailties that will worry Guardiola; for Sunderland, the result stings given they matched City in territory and chances created, but their inability to defend set-pieces and transitions proved costly against a ruthless front line.
How entertaining was this match?
Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Matheus Nunes (Manchester City).
Attempt missed. Trai Hume (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée with a cross following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Matheus Nunes.
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
Foul by Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
Marc Guéhi (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Robin Roefs (Sunderland). Assisted by Jérémy Doku with a through ball.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Robin Roefs.
Substitution, Manchester City. Nico O'Reilly replaces Rayan Cherki.
Foul by Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
Elliot Anderson (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
VAR Decision: Goal Manchester City 4-3 Sunderland (Erling Haaland).
assist: Josko Gvardiol
Goal! Manchester City 5, Sunderland 3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range.
Attempt saved. Malick Fofana (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Substitution, Sunderland. Trai Hume replaces Thomas Meunier.
Attempt blocked. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Antoine Semenyo.
Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Manchester City. Jérémy Doku replaces Iliman Ndiaye.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Antoine Semenyo.
Attempt blocked. Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rayan Cherki.
Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Enzo Fernández (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Brian Brobbey (Sunderland).
Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Enzo Fernández (Manchester City).
Attempt blocked. Malick Fofana (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Granit Xhaka following a set piece situation.
Attempt blocked. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor replaces Noah Sadiki.
Attempt missed. Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Antoine Semenyo.
Attempt missed. Rúben Dias (Manchester City) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Enzo Fernández with a cross following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Kevin Danso.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Robin Roefs.
Substitution, Sunderland. Malick Fofana replaces Nilson Angulo.
Attempt blocked. Nilson Angulo (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Granit Xhaka with a through ball.
assist: Nilson Angulo
Goal! Manchester City 4, Sunderland 3. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) right footed shot from very close range.
Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Elliot Anderson (Manchester City).
Goal! Manchester City 4, Sunderland 2. Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Robin Roefs (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City).
Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box.
Second Half begins Manchester City 3, Sunderland 2.
Attempt saved. Kevin Danso (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City). Assisted by Nordi Mukiele with a headed pass.
First Half ends, Manchester City 3, Sunderland 2.
Attempt blocked. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Marc Guéhi.
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Attempt missed. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Iliman Ndiaye.
Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Attempt blocked. Marc Guéhi (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
assist: Marc Guéhi
Goal! Manchester City 3, Sunderland 2. Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
Foul by Enzo Fernández (Manchester City).
Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Enzo Fernández (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nilson Angulo (Sunderland).
Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Thomas Meunier (Sunderland).
assist: Thomas Meunier
Goal! Manchester City 2, Sunderland 2. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Foul by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Matheus Nunes.
assist: Antoine Semenyo
Goal! Manchester City 2, Sunderland 1. Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Attempt missed. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box.
Kevin Danso (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Sunderland).
Elliot Anderson (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Elliot Anderson (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Dayann Méthalie.
Foul by Kevin Danso (Sunderland).
Enzo Fernández (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Noah Sadiki (Sunderland).
Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
assist: Enzo Le Fée
Goal! Manchester City 1, Sunderland 1. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Attempt blocked. Dayann Méthalie (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin Danso with a headed pass.
Goal! Manchester City 1, Sunderland 0. Enzo Fernández (Manchester City) from a free kick with a right footed shot.
Foul by Dayann Méthalie (Sunderland).
Dayann MéthalieYellow CardDayann Méthalie (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Brian Brobbey.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Marc Guéhi.
Attempt missed. Nilson Angulo (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Foul by Kevin Danso (Sunderland).
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
First Half begins.
Outstanding performance
Sunderland•Attacker
