Haaland and Cherki doubles fire Manchester City to 4-1 win at Crystal Palace

Manchester City made it two wins from two in the Premier League after Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki scored twice each in a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Haaland opened the scoring with a well-placed header from Antoine Semenyo’s cross in the 17th minute, before Cherki doubled the visitors’ advantage nine minutes after half-time.

Crystal Palace responded through Yeremy Pino, although his free-kick took a deflection off the right post and then struck Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before ending up in the net as an own goal.

Cherki restored Manchester City’s two-goal lead in the 59th minute with a powerful effort which clipped a Crystal Palace defender on its way into the home side’s goal. Haaland completed the scoring six minutes from time, converting Phil Foden’s pass with another fierce strike.

The result leaves Manchester City on six points from their opening two matches, while Crystal Palace have lost both of their games and remain without a point.

Haaland’s latest goals also strengthened his record in August matches in the Premier League. He has now scored 23 goals in 16 league appearances during the month. Only Andy Cole has scored more Premier League goals in August, with 25 in 44 matches.

Cherki also entered the Premier League record books. He became only the third player in the competition’s history to score more than once in one of his team’s first two matches of a season and provide more than one assist in the other.

The two players previously to achieve that feat were Thierry Henry for Arsenal in the 2004-05 season and Didier Drogba for Chelsea in 2010-11.

How the match unfolded

Crystal Palace threatened early, with Donnarumma saving a powerful effort from Yeremy Pino in the second minute.

Haaland then missed a clear opportunity in the seventh minute after getting through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Norway striker made no mistake when his next major chance arrived, rising to meet Semenyo’s accurate delivery and give Manchester City the lead.

The visitors extended their advantage in the 54th minute. Foden picked out Cherki, who worked his way past the Crystal Palace defence before finding the net for his first goal of the match.

Pino pulled one back two minutes later from a free-kick. The attempt struck Donnarumma’s right-hand post and rebounded into the goalkeeper before crossing the line.

Manchester City quickly regained control. Cherki produced a powerful shot in the 59th minute which brushed a Crystal Palace defender and flew into the net to make it 3-1.

Pino came close to reducing the deficit again in the 66th minute, but his fierce effort went just wide of the goal. Manchester City maintained their two-goal cushion until Haaland put the result beyond doubt in the 84th minute, driving Foden’s pass into the Crystal Palace net.

Morocco international Ayoub Bouaddi, who joined Manchester City from Lille in recent days, was named among the substitutes. Haaland led the Manchester City attack.

Manchester City will host Coventry City next Saturday in the third round of the Premier League. Crystal Palace will also play on Saturday, travelling to face Fulham.