Haaland and Semenyo fire City to 5-3 victory over Sunderland

Manchester City survived a remarkable eight-goal thriller against Sunderland to secure a 5-3 victory and extend their perfect Premier League start to seven matches.

Brian Brobbey scored a hat-trick for Sunderland, becoming the first player to score three goals for the club in a Premier League match since Jermain Defoe in 2016.

But City's attacking quality ultimately proved decisive, with Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland all finding the net.

The victory sends City into the international break with a 100% league record and three points separating them from Arsenal at the top of the table.

Fernández opens the scoring

Manchester City took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes. Enzo Fernández curled a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area towards the near post, catching Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs off guard.

It was Fernández's first goal for City since his deadline-day move to the club.

Sunderland responded almost immediately. Two minutes after City's opener, Enzo Le Fée produced an excellent pass through the home defence to release Brobbey, who calmly slid the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma to level the contest.

Cherki and Brobbey keep the goals coming

City regained the lead after half an hour. A high press allowed Iliman Ndiaye to win possession in midfield before Antoine Semenyo supplied Rayan Cherki inside the penalty area. Cherki picked out the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Sunderland again found an immediate response. Le Fée and Thomas Meunier combined before the latter squared the ball across the area for Brobbey, who had a simple finish from close range.

A lengthy VAR review followed, but the goal stood and the scores were level again at 2-2. City eventually restored their advantage just before half-time.

Marc Guéhi's attempt to find Haaland was blocked by Daniel Ballard, but the deflection fell kindly for Semenyo. The forward fired through a crowd of players and into the net to make it 3-2.

Haaland then missed an opportunity to extend the lead when Cherki released Ndiaye on the counter. Rather than shoot, Ndiaye squared for Haaland, who fired wide from close range.

Sunderland nearly levelled again before the break when Brobbey's effort took a heavy deflection and rattled the crossbar.

Semenyo completes his brace

City restored a two-goal cushion in the 57th minute. Sunderland defenders Kevin Danso and Nordi Mukiele collided as they attempted to deal with the ball, allowing Semenyo to take advantage of the loose possession.

The winger made no mistake, firing a powerful finish into the bottom corner for his second goal of the night. Sunderland refused to go away.

Brobbey completed his hat-trick just three minutes later after Granit Xhaka produced a clever pass over the City defence. Nilson Angulo reached the ball and helped it into Brobbey's path, allowing the Dutch striker to finish and reduce the deficit to 4-3.

Haaland seals City's seventh win

Sunderland came close to completing the comeback midway through the second half. A dangerous free-kick from Xhaka caused confusion inside the City penalty area. Guéhi and Donnarumma failed to clear, while Rúben Dias inadvertently sent the ball towards his own goal.

Dias recovered in time to race back and clear the ball off the line. City eventually put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute. Jérémy Doku released Joško Gvardiol down the left, and the defender delivered a low cross across the six-yard box.

Haaland slid towards the far post and converted to make it 5-3. The goal also continued Haaland's remarkable scoring record against Premier League opposition, with the striker having now scored against every club he has faced in the competition.

Sunderland had one final opportunity in stoppage time when Ballard's effort from the rebound was sliced towards goal, but the ball struck the post. City held on for another victory to maintain their perfect start.

City three points clear

The result gives Manchester City seven wins from seven Premier League matches and sends them into the international break three points clear of Arsenal.

Sunderland can take encouragement from Brobbey's hat-trick and their attacking display, but City's quality in the decisive moments ultimately settled one of the most entertaining games of the season so far.

SportsLigue