Manchester City edge Sunderland in seven-goal Premier League thriller

Manchester City edged Sunderland 4-3 in a seven-goal Premier League contest, with Antoine Semenyo scoring twice after Brian Brobbey struck a hat-trick for the visitors.

Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring for Manchester City with a superb direct free-kick. From a medium distance, the midfielder sent a powerful effort into the top-right corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance but to watch the ball nestle in the net.

Sunderland responded through Brobbey, who met a fine long pass from Enzo Le Fee inside the penalty area. Unmarked and with time to shoot, he drove the ball into the bottom-right corner.

Manchester City regained the lead when Ryan Cherki finished from close range. Semenyo supplied the ball amid confusion inside the Sunderland area, allowing Cherki to strike first time into the bottom-right corner.

Brobbey levelled again before half-time. He received a precise pass which split the defence on the edge of the box and sent a powerful low shot just inside the left post.

The sides went into the interval at 2-2 after the referee added five minutes of stoppage time. Earlier, Brobbey had also forced an excellent save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who anticipated the direction of his effort towards the top of the goal.

Semenyo restored Manchester City’s advantage after the break when the ball fell to him outside the penalty area. His low shot was not particularly accurate, but Robin Roefs was unable to keep it out.

The forward then put Manchester City 4-2 ahead by capitalising on a major defensive mistake near the edge of the Sunderland box and firing emphatically into the net.

Sunderland reduced the deficit through Brobbey, completing his hat-trick. He collected the ball inside the area and finished quickly and skilfully to make it 4-3.

Ten minutes into the second half, Manchester City held a 3-2 lead before the later goals changed the scoreline. City circulated the ball repeatedly in midfield, while Sunderland also enjoyed spells of accurate passing.

Manchester City had 54% possession to Sunderland’s 46% at one stage, with the figure later recorded as 55%-45%. City managed two shots, one on target, while Sunderland registered three efforts, one of which was off target.

Eliman Ndiaye twice delivered dangerous crosses for Manchester City, but Sunderland’s defence dealt with both. He also saw a run into the area halted when Roefs came quickly off his line to block the danger.

Fernandez sent one corner too strongly beyond everyone and saw another cleared by the alert Sunderland defence. Semenyo also had a cross intercepted by Roefs, while a long delivery towards him ran out of play.

Nelson Angulo missed the target after receiving a pass inside the penalty area and was unable to reach another cross. Sunderland made their first substitution, while Dian Methali was booked.