Man is a target animal. Erling Halange, lethal inside the box, scored five goals against Luton in the FA Cup, on a nightmarish night for the minnows Kenilworth Road: 2-6 to Manchester City.
The numbers are impressive and show the strength of this beast in terms of physical and technical capabilities. He has scored 79 goals in 83 competitive matches since arriving at City, and the second time around he was able to achieve a brutality – allow us to be hyperbolic – like this: five goals in one game.
At Luton's home, the partnership with Kevin De Bruyne has worked brilliantly. The Belgian, no less brilliant, served Haaland for four of the five goals and also deserves full marks. They can be seen with their eyes closed, as you can see in this following video:
This is wine @Manchester city 🤌
It's something else @erlinghaland One goal…and another @Kevin De Bruyne Help 😉#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/RMRRl3tipN
– Emirates Football Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
Now, for the story to be complete, it remains to say that Mateo Kovacic scored City's sixth goal in the 72nd minute. Haaland scored his hat-trick between the 3rd and 58th minutes.
For Luton, Jordan Clark scored both goals, one of them with an unusual shot from outside the area. But on a night like Erling Haaland's, chances are no one will notice.
Matheus Nunes and Bernardo Silva were starters for Manchester City and were important in qualifying for the quarter-finals, as were Ricardo Pereira (substitute used) and Wanya Marsal (starter) in Leicester's difficult win. Bournemouth: 0-1.
The match was decided by Fatawu, the left-handed player from Sporting Lisbon, with a wonderful shot from outside the area. It's worth watching.
Ishaq Fatawu. Remember the name. 💎
The Ghanaian scores a goal in extra time @LCFCAnd his first #EmiratesFACup A goal in his first match 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/MYLhFNXt9J
– Emirates Football Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
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