Manchester City displayed their championship pedigree in a convincing 4-1 victory over promoted Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The Citizens recovered from a surprising early setback to dominate the match, showcasing their attacking prowess with a clinical display of goalscoring.
The game took an unexpected turn in the seventh minute when Ipswich’s Sammie Szmodics capitalized on a defensive lapse by City, slotting the ball past a misjudging Ederson to give the visitors a shock lead. However, this goal seemed to ignite a fire within City, who responded with an explosive flurry of goals within a mere three and a half minutes.
Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal machine, converted a penalty in the 12th minute after a foul on Phil Foden, marking the start of his hat-trick. Kevin De Bruyne then added his name to the scoresheet moments later, profiting from a mistake by Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric. Haaland completed his brace in the 14th minute with a well-taken finish after a perfectly lofted pass from De Bruyne.
The first half saw City relentlessly attack, hitting the woodwork twice in quick succession through Rico Lewis and De Bruyne. Ipswich struggled to contain the relentless waves of attacks, with City dominating possession and creating numerous chances.
Haaland capped off a sensational performance with his third goal of the game in the 88th minute, firing a rocket from outside the box to secure the victory. City, with an overwhelming 76% possession, created a staggering 13 shots compared to Ipswich’s solitary attempt, showcasing their dominance throughout the match.
The second-half arrival of Ilkay Gundogan was met with a thunderous ovation from the Etihad faithful, marking his return to Pep Guardiola’s team after his departure in 2023. This emphatic win cemented City’s position as early title contenders, extending their perfect start to the season. Meanwhile, Ipswich, still searching for their first point, face an uphill battle to avoid relegation this season.
