Man City edge Sunderland 5-3 to extend perfect start — SkimNews
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- Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 at the Etihad, extending their 100% Premier League start to five successive wins under Enzo Maresca and taking a three-point lead into the international break
- Brian Brobbey scored a hat-trick for Sunderland in a losing cause, constantly troubling City's defense and nearly dragging his side level at 4-3 before Haaland's decisive goal
- Antoine Semenyo struck twice for City, with Enzo Fernández and Rayan Cherki also on the scoresheet in a match marred by poor defending from both sides
- Erling Haaland tapped in at the back post nine minutes from time to seal the win after inexplicably missing an open goal earlier, while Gianluigi Donnarumma had to clear one off his own line
- Enzo Fernández curled in his first goal since a £125million move from Chelsea via a ninth-minute free-kick after goalkeeper Robin Roefs left a gap at his near post
- City 'failed to assert control' against a Sunderland side in midweek Europa League action, with Brobbey twice restoring parity before half-time and the visitors nearly equalizing again at 4-3
Why it matters: City's perfect start and three-point cushion at the top masks a deeply unconvincing display against a promoted side that refused to lie down — Maresca's team conceded three and needed a 81st-minute tap-in from Haaland to see it out, raising questions about defensive solidity heading into the international break.
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