Haaland double gives Manchester City winning start at Porto

Manchester City began their UEFA Champions League league-phase campaign with a 2-0 victory over Porto, as Erling Haaland scored in each half to settle a hard-fought contest at Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday.

Haaland’s opening goal came two minutes after half-time, when he met an accurate cross from Enzo Fernandez with a powerful header. The ball struck the post before finding the net, giving the visitors the lead after Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa had kept his side in the game during a dominant first half for City.

Porto had threatened early on without seriously troubling the scoreline. Gabriel Veiga broke forward down the left in the 15th minute, collected a pass inside the penalty area and drove a low effort towards goal. Gianluigi Donnarumma made the save, although the assistant referee subsequently raised the flag for offside.

City responded almost immediately, with Antoine Semenyo testing Costa from distance. The Porto goalkeeper held the shot securely as both teams settled into the match.

The visitors gradually took control and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 21st minute. Phil Foden carried the ball forward on the left before delivering a precise cross, which Haaland met with a forceful header. Costa reacted well to turn the effort behind for a corner.

Haaland threatened again six minutes later, sending another header narrowly over the crossbar. City continued to create the clearer opportunities, and Foden was presented with an excellent chance in the 29th minute after Rayan Cherki played him through inside the box. Foden’s low shot, however, was blocked by the alert Costa.

The Portuguese goalkeeper produced his best sequence of saves shortly afterwards. In the 32nd minute, he denied Haaland after the striker followed up a low cross, then recovered quickly to stop Cherki’s effort from the rebound.

Porto tried to respond after falling behind. Alan Varela curled an effort from the edge of the penalty area just wide in the 57th minute, while William Gomes also sent a low shot narrowly past the post five minutes later.

Donnarumma was nearly punished in the 66th minute after making an error while attempting to clear the ball. His misjudgement allowed the ball to strike Gomes and travel close to the post, but City escaped without conceding.

Porto continued to search for an equaliser late on, with Nouri firing a powerful effort from the edge of the box in the 86th minute. His shot passed just wide of Donnarumma’s goal.

Haaland then secured the points in stoppage time. Nouri’s pass found the Norway forward inside the area, and he made no mistake with a direct low finish to complete his double and confirm City’s 2-0 win.

The result gives Manchester City a valuable opening victory in Europe before they turn their attention to Sunday’s Manchester derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Enzo Maresca’s side will be aiming to maintain their strong early-season form and preserve a perfect record after claiming three successive wins at the start of the Premier League campaign.