Erling Haaland covered for a serious error by Gianluigi Donnarumma in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday, which lifted the team to second place in the Premier League.
Haaland reached 13 goals on the campaign – more than double that of any other player – by receiving passes from the impressive Rayan Cherki and finishing on one-on-one opportunities in the 17th and 33rd minutes. Haaland celebrated with a robot dance after the first goal.
Between those goals, Bournemouth equalized after Donnarumma attempted to punch a corner clear, only to miscalculate and leave the ball loose in front of him. American midfielder Tyler Adams took advantage to score and Donnarumma was booked for protesting too forcefully that he had been fouled.
That mistake will be just a footnote in Haaland’s latest show, with the Norwegian forward reaching 26 goals in 16 games for club and country this season. He has scored two goals in each of his last four home appearances in the Premier League.
“I try to help the team win, that’s my goal,” Haaland said. “Whether it’s scoring or helping in duels, it doesn’t matter, as long as we win.”
Home left back Nico O’Reilly scored the third goal in the 60th minute for City, who replaced Bournemouth in second place to become Arsenal’s closest rival.
Arsenal, seeking its first league title since 2004, beat Burnley 2-0 on Saturday and now have a six-point lead after 10 games.
Guardiola defends Donnarumma
Although Donnarumma has impressed with his saves since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, a weakness in the Italy international’s game could be his punching clearance on crosses.
In September, Donnarumma hit the ball into his own net when playing for Italy against Israel, but that goal was disallowed after an opposing player was deemed to be pushing him.
On Sunday, Bournemouth captain David Brooks initially grabbed Donnarumma’s left arm but released it before the goalkeeper attempted his clearance.
City manager Pep Guardiola said it was “unbelievable” that the goal was allowed to stand.
“Sometimes there are things that are difficult to understand why they were not overturned,” he said.
Long wait ends
West Ham fans had been waiting eight months for a home win in the Premier League
They finally got it after their struggling team came from behind to beat Newcastle 3-1, earning just their second win of the season.
Jacob Murphy’s fourth-minute goal for Newcastle, which came seconds after Jarrod Bowen hit the post at the other end, did nothing to liven up what turned out to be a sluggish performance from the visitors.
Instead, West Ham got deeper into the game and after Lucas Paquetá equalized in the 35th minute with a long-range shot that snuck in at the near post, Newcastle defender Sven Botman stretched to block a cross, but only managed to deflect the ball into his own net in first-half stoppage time.
Substitute Tomas Soucek added a third for West Ham in second-half stoppage time.
West Ham, whose last home win was against Leicester on February 27, remained in the relegation zone but overtook Nottingham Forest into second-to-last place. Forest were the only team West Ham had beaten previously this season.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo had picked up just one point in his first four games in charge after replacing Graham Potter.
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