Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 on Friday night. Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland both scored braces. The win gave City back-to-back victories to start the Premier League season.
Palace started well. But they fell behind in the 17th minute. Haaland rose to head in a cross from Antoine Semenyo. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson couldn’t hold on to it. It was Haaland’s first goal of the new season.
In the 21st minute, Phil Foden shot wide. Eddie Nketiah then also wasted a chance at the start of the second half. In the 54th minute, Cherki broke through the opposition defense to score.
Two minutes later, Palace pulled one back. Jeremy Pino’s free kick hit the crossbar. The ball then bounced off City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, hit the post, and went in.
But Palace’s hopes of a comeback didn’t last long. Cherki scored again in the 59th minute. His shot deflected off Chris Richards and changed direction into the net. It was his second goal of the night.
Haaland also scored his second goal in the 85th minute. He struck a powerful left-footed shot from Foden’s pass. That goal sealed City’s win. Coach Enzo Maresca’s side has taken a full six points from their first two matches.
After this win, City will get about a week’s rest. Their next match is against newly promoted Coventry City.
The following week, they will travel to Old Trafford, where they will face Manchester United in this season’s first derby.