Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca secured a dominant 4-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, maintaining a 100 percent start to the Premier League season. According to match reports, Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a towering header before Rayan Cherki produced a masterclass featuring two second-half goals, complemented by an own goal from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Haaland and Cherki Lead City Past Palace
Erling Haaland broke the deadlock in the first half, rising above Chris Richards to head home a left-wing cross from Antoine Semenyo, marking his first goal of the 2026/27 campaign. Despite early pressure and chances from Crystal Palace—including a close-range header that Tyrick Mitchell sent wide—Manchester City seized control of the fixture.
Rayan Cherki extended City’s lead after the interval. Collecting a pass from Phil Foden inside the penalty area, the French attacker jinked through a crowd of defenders and clipped a delicate finish past goalkeeper Dean Henderson using the outside of his boot, according to match statistics.
Individual Brilliance and Late Blows
Crystal Palace responded swiftly when Yeremy Pino curled a 25-yard free-kick over the wall and against the crossbar, with the ball rebounding off Gianluigi Donnarumma’s back and over the line to go down as an own goal. However, Cherki neutralized Palace’s momentum just five minutes later by unleashing a long-range shot that deflected off Richards past Henderson to restore a two-goal cushion.
Marc Guehi intercepted a pass from Richards late in the match, feeding Foden to set up Haaland for his second goal of the night in the 84th minute. The 4-1 scoreline leaves Palace searching for their first win under new boss Pierre Sage, who expressed frustration with his substitutes’ lack of energy.
Managerial and Player Reaction
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Rayan Cherki offered a blunt assessment of his own display, stating, “My performance was so-so. In the first half, we didn’t find the space. I played so-so.” Alongside him, Haaland laughed off the self-criticism, noting that his teammate scored two top goals. Manager Enzo Maresca praised Cherki’s defensive diligence, telling Sky Sports that the playmaker worked hard to control midfielder Adam Wharton and contributed significantly off the ball.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the final score between Crystal Palace and Manchester City?
- Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park.
- Who scored for Manchester City?
- Erling Haaland scored twice, and Rayan Cherki added two goals, alongside an own goal credited to Gianluigi Donnarumma following Yeremy Pino’s free-kick.
- How many goals does Erling Haaland have this season?
- Erling Haaland opened his goalscoring account for the 2026/27 campaign with a brace against Crystal Palace.
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