Erling Haaland bags another hat-trick as City trash Burnley in FA Cup
2 min read
Erling Haaland scored yet another hat-trick as Manchester City destroyed Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Vincent Kompany’s return to the Etihad Stadium was not a happy one, suffering a thrashing at the place he called home for over a decade.
Pep Guardiola’s men recovered from a sluggish start to put the sword to the Clarets and head into the international break on a mighty high.
The Championship leaders made a good account of themselves early on, with the first chance of note seeing Vitinho’s slipped strike tipped just past the post by Stefan Ortega.
But despite this adventurous endeavour, Man City took the lead with their first opportunity. A clever ball from Julian Alvarez managed to split the Burnley centre-backs and send Haaland racing away, poking the ball past Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Sure enough, the hosts doubled their lead minutes later. Phil Foden managed to sprint clear down the left and put the ball on the plate for Haaland to tap in.
Ian Maatsen stung the palms of Ortega with the last kick of the half as Burnley cruelly went into the break two goals behind.
After the break, Peacock-Farrell managed to deny Riyad Mahrez from point-blank range following a clever half-volleyed cross from Kyle Walker, while the Northern Ireland international was called on again to keep out Haaland.
Foden then rattled the post before Haaland completed his hat-trick – number six for the season – by stretching to poke home the rebound.
The floodgates were now open and Alvarez claimed Man City’s fourth from close range at the end of a sweeping team move, with Kevin De Bruyne providing the assist this time.
Substitute Cole Palmer added the fifth after Peacock-Farrell was only able to parry clear a high cross from Foden.
Number six was finished by Alvarez after he ran onto a long ball between the lines from De Bruyne, compounding Burnley’s misery.
Man City advanced to their fifth successive FA Cup semi-final after just two merciful minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half.
