Erling Haaland sends immediate reminder to inspire Man City comeback win
Erling Haaland needed just six minutes to show why he’s big in Japan.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola gave the 61,618 fans in Tokyo’s National Stadium what they had come to see by sending on the goal machine as a half-time substitute after seeing his side hit back from two goals down against the Japanese champions to go in at the break on level terms.
And last season’s 52-goal sensation needed just three touches of the ball to find the back of the net from Phil Foden ’s raking pass. Haaland scored again in injury-time, arriving at the far post to walk home Joao Cancelo's brilliant low cross. It certainly sent the punters home happy.
It is clear that the treble winners are winning hearts and minds on their sell-out three-game pre-season tour of East Asia. Pep Guardiola started the game with only four of the players he picked for the Champions League final last month in a team that included £30million new-boy Mateo Kovacic as well as Kalvin Phillips and academy graduates Cole Palmer and James McAtee.
Yokohama, who gave Scottish champions a 6-4 hammering last week, surged into a 2-0 lead thanks to two beautifully crafted goals by Brazilian striker Anderson Lopes and Ken Matsubara inside the first 37 minutes.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Marinos, who are managed by former Millwall and Wolves and Crystal Palace hardman Kevin Muscat, became one of the City Football Group’s sister clubs in 2014. But their impressive start shook their big brother into an instant response, with John Stones and Julian Alvarez bringing the Blues level with two goals in three minutes just before half-time.
Erling Haaland warming up for the game (Masatoshi Okauchi/REX/Shutterstock)Guardiola then indicated that he was keen to place the J League World Challenge trophy next to the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup by making 10 substitutions, with No 2 keeper Stefan Ortega the only player to do the full 90 minutes.
The buzz inside the stadium when the flowing blond locks of Haaland appeared at the mouth of the tunnel grew into the loudest cheer of the night when it became clear the Norwegian was stripped for action.
Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Ruben Dias and even rebel full-back Joao Cancelo were also introduced. But after Haaland had shook off his cobwebs with a couple of early touches, he didn’t blink when Foden presented him with his first sight of Jun Ichimori’s goal and he found the bottom corner with the kind of accuracy that he now takes for granted.
John Stones also scored for Manchester City (AP)Rodri, the midfielder whose strike won the Champions League in Istanbul six weeks ago, then showed his improving eye for goal with a gloriously placed finish from 30 yards to extend City’s lead in the 72nd minute.
Yokohama reduced the deficit four minutes from time when he capitalised on a mix-up by City keeper Ortega and Rico Lewis. But it felt scripted that Haaland would have the final word.
City now go on to face Bayern Munich in the same stadium before jetting to South Korea to meet Atletico Madrid. Guardiola admitted before the game that he has issues with his squad with the Community Shield clash with Arsenal now less than three weeks away.
Perhaps his decision to make Kyle Walker his captain for the night was an indication of how keen he is to keep the England full-back out of the clutches of Bayern.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
