Erling Haaland grabbed a brace in his Premier League debut to get Manchester City out of the blocks on Sunday cheered on by his family members.
After winning and scoring a pently in the 36th minute, the Norwegian slotted past an onrushing Areola in goal twenty minutes after recommencement to put the game beyond the Hammers and get City’s title defense underway.
After a quiet first half for West Ham, the home side came out fighting in the second and almost had their reward on 54 minutes when Lanzini won back possession high up the pitch. The Argentinian crossed to Antonio, who turned the ball back out wide. Vladimír Coufal’s cross was into Bowen and, while it was cut out, Declan Rice reacted quickest, only to fire over the bar.
The introduction of Italian international Scamacca received a roar of approval from the home fans on 57 minutes, but it was City who went closest next as Gundogan put wide from a fizzed cross by De Bruyne.
Scamacca’s rising header to Fornals set up an attack for the Hammers, with the Spaniard spraying out to Coufal for another cross. This time, the ball was just over Scamacca but Saïd Benrahma – also introduced as a substitute – was there to meet it. The Algerian’s effort was unfortunately too tame, and Ederson had no problem claiming the ball.
The missed chance proved crucial as, just two minutes, Haaland and City had their second. De Bruyne’s pinpoint through-ball was met by the striker, who calmly placed his low effort into the back of the West Ham net.
