Erling Haaland’s hat-trick powered Manchester City to a 4-2 pre-season victory over a mistake-prone Chelsea in Columbus.
The Norwegian striker, who turned 24 this summer, wasted no time making an impact, scoring twice within the first five minutes as Chelsea’s defense faltered early on.
Early Mistakes Cost Chelsea
Chelsea handed City the lead through two early errors. The first goal came from a loose pass by Tosin Adarabioyo, leading to Levi Colwill fouling Haaland in the box.
Haaland converted the penalty after a retake. Just moments later, he capitalized on another mistake, this time intercepting a misplaced pass from Moises Caicedo to double City’s advantage.
The second half saw more defensive errors from Chelsea. City’s third goal came when substitute Raheem Sterling lost possession, allowing Oscar Bobb to score through a near-post shot in the 55th minute. Haaland completed his hat-trick just a minute later, taking advantage of another mistake, this time from Malo Gusto.
Chelsea’s Late Response
Despite the early setbacks, Chelsea managed to get on the scoresheet. Sterling volleyed in a cross in the 59th minute, and Noni Madueke added a second goal on the counterattack in the 88th minute.
However, it was too little, too late for Chelsea, who were unable to recover from their early mistakes.
The match, played in front of 68,000 fans at Ohio Stadium, was marked by several defensive errors from both sides, with both managers attributing some of the mistakes to the pitch conditions.
Maresca’s Tactical Experiment
Chelsea’s new manager Enzo Maresca is still refining his tactical approach after just five weeks in charge. All four goals conceded were due to mistakes while trying to play out from the back, a style that Maresca insists will ultimately lead to progress.
However, it’s clear that Chelsea’s players, including full-backs Reece James and Malo Gusto, are still adapting to the new system.
Maresca acknowledged that he is still experimenting to find the right balance in his team, saying, “In this moment, I need to see things for the rest of the season.
” Despite the defeat, Chelsea did create some chances, including missed opportunities from Christopher Nkunku and Enzo Fernandez.
Haaland, Grealish, and Bobb Shine for City
Manchester City’s attack was spearheaded by Haaland, who looked sharp and ready for the new season with his quick-fire hat-trick.
Jack Grealish, who is determined to prove himself after missing out on England’s Euro 2024 squad, played a key role in City’s success, providing the assist for the first goal and linking up well with Haaland throughout the match.
Oscar Bobb also impressed, scoring City’s third goal and nearly adding another after a skillful dribble.
City’s young players, including Rico Lewis, James McAtee, and Josh Wilson-Esbrand, showed promise as they stepped up in the absence of several senior players who are still returning from international duty.
With key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden yet to rejoin the squad, Haaland, Grealish, and Bobb could be the trio to watch when City face Manchester United in the Community Shield next weekend.
What’s Next?
Manchester City will return to the UK to prepare for their Community Shield clash against Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will stay in the United States for a match against Real Madrid on Tuesday night before facing Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge next Sunday. Both teams will be looking to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new season.
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