Rodri saves Man City from Sheffield United with a goal, and Haaland also scores

Manchester City defeated relative unknowns Sheffield United 2-1 thanks to an outstanding performance from Earling Haaland, maintaining their unblemished Premier League record.

Manchester City continued their flawless start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over relative unknowns Sheffield United, led by an excellent Erling Haaland.

Before giving City the lead at Bramall Lane after the break, Haaland’s first-half penalty kick struck the post.When Jayden Bogle levelled against the flow of play with only five minutes remaining, City was in danger of dropping the points.After City’s third straight victory, Pep Guardiola’s team went to the top of the league. Rodri, though, rescued City with a thunderous shot three minutes later.Guardiola, who was watching television while recovering from back surgery in Barcelona, was not present for City’s most recent victory.

Juanma Lillo, the City manager’s assistant who took over at Bramall Lane and will also be in charge for the champions’ match against Fulham on Saturday, was in constant communication with him.

By knowing that City can succeed without Guardiola, his recovery will have been facilitated.

It was a historic win for Guardiola, who now has 200 league victories with City in just 269 games, breaking Jose Mourinho’s previous Premier League record of 326 games established in 2020. Despite doing so from a distance, Guardiola still broke that mark.

City has started a season with three straight league victories for the first time since 2016, sending a chilling message to their title rivals that their hunger for victory has not been satisfied by last season’s triple-double.

When Julian Alvarez’s cross was stopped by John Egan’s extended arm in the 36th minute, City should have taken the lead.

Haaland, however, smashed his penalty right into the goal post. The ball bounced to safety, and the Norwegian stood there with an expression of shock on his face.

After converting his previous seven penalties in the Premier League, Haaland missed his first one this time.

It seemed like a bad day for the striker as Haaland headed another golden opportunity wide from Kyle Walker’s cross.

The Rescue by Rodri

Wes Foderingham blocked Haaland’s close-range chip after Mateo Kovacic passed it to him.

But in the 63rd minute, Haaland ultimately paid back City’s domination on the pitch by leaping over Jack Robinson at the far post to head his third goal of the year off of Jack Grealish’s enticing cross.

Blades replacement Bogle got a shocking equaliser in the 85th minute as City was cruising.

Walker committed an unnecessary backheel while facing the team he had supported as a youngster, prolonging a United attack that culminated with Bogle’s ferocious strike deflecting in off Nathan Ake.

Walker atoned for his mistake by winning back possession outside the United area, and three minutes later City took the lead again when Rodri slammed into the top corner from 12 yards.

With two goals from Matty Cash, Aston Villa defeated Burnley 3-1 to continue Unai Emery’s team’s impressive scoring run.

Villa had bounced back by thrashing Everton 4-0 and smashing Hibernian 5-0 after losing 5-1 at Newcastle in their season opener.

In three games, they scored twelve goals.

Burnley has dropped its opening two games of the season.

In the eighth minute, John McGinn’s pass found Ollie Watkins, whose cross was expertly weighted for Cash to confidently convert from close range.

After a quick pass exchange with Moussa Diaby, Cash scored again in the 20th minute.

Since Steven Pienaar scored for Everton in 2013 with a shot from close range, Lyle Foster of Burnley is the first South African to score in the Premier League.

However, Diaby put an end to Burnley’s revolt in the 61st minute with a precise finish off of Lucas Digne’s cutback.

In a fascinating matchup between two teams vying for the crown later on Sunday, Newcastle and Liverpool square off at St. James’ Park.

AFP