Haaland shines for Man City, United lose under Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag bid for time after starting his Manchester United reign with a disappointing defeat. Erling Haaland did not need much time to show what kind of impact he will have at Manchester City.
Manchester’s two biggest offseason arrivals had starkly different starts to the Premier League season on Sunday.
Ten Hag looked stern on the sidelines as the Dutch coach watched United slump to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton at Old Trafford, with his side trailing in the first half before a second-half rally fizzled out short
Haaland scored twice to lead Man City to a 2-0 win at West Ham, netting from the penalty spot in the first half and then adding a clinical finish in the second.
Ten Hag was brought in by United to help close the gap on their crosstown rivals, after they finished 35 points behind champions Man City in the league last season.
If anything, the gap seems to have only grown – thanks mostly to Haaland.
The Norway forward was recruited by City to provide a clear focal point for the team’s attack, with Pep Guardiola spending much of last season playing without a recognized striker. And the powerful Norwegian striker will clearly add another dimension to a team that still led the league in scoring last season with 99 goals.
Meanwhile, United fans are still waiting to see what kind of impact Ten Hag will have after a heartwarming performance against Brighton that showed that many of the team’s old weaknesses still remain.
“Definitely a blow, a real disappointment,” Ten Hag said. “I knew from the beginning that it would not be easy. And it’s a process, it takes time. But you don’t have time, we have to win the games. We should have done better.”
Pascal Gross scored twice in the first half to put Brighton in control and United looked toothless and out of ideas until Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench early in the second half. With Ronaldo sparking the attack, United pulled one back through an Alexis Mac Allister own goal after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez failed to clear a corner.
United’s players were booed off the pitch by the home fans after a performance that destroyed any notion that Ten Hag could provide an immediate solution to the many issues that plagued the team last season.
If there was an issue that City needed to fix, Haaland seems to have provided the answer.
Haaland showed his speed to accelerate away from two defenders as he pounced on a pass in the box from Ilkay Gundogan and was brought down by goalkeeper Alphonse Areola as they competed for the ball.
He calmly slotted the penalty away into the left corner in the 36th minute and then sat cross-legged in a meditative position – his trademark goal celebration which can become a frequent sight in -Premier League.
The second goal arrived in the 65th, when the Norwegian calmed down his run perfectly to meet a through ball from Kevin de Bruyne and then used his left foot to slot the ball into the far corner.
After Liverpool were held to a draw by Fulham on Saturday, City sent an early warning that they remain the team to beat in England. And with Haaland up front, it will be even more difficult to take the title away from Guardiola’s team.
BRENTFORD RALLIES
Brentford came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Leicester after substitute Josh Dasilva equalized with a curling strike in the 86th minute.
Leicester dominated much of the game and took a deserved 2-0 lead after goals in each half from Timothy Castagne and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before Ivan Toney pulled one back in the 62nd minute.
And in the last stages, Dasilva fired a shot from the edge of the penalty box to equalize after it cut inside on his left leg.