Global Courant 2023-05-04 11:24:50
Norwegian striker scores 35th league goal of the season in 3-0 win against West Ham.
Erling Haaland set a goalscoring record in the English Premier League by scoring his 35th of the season in Manchester City’s 3-0 win against West Ham.
The 22-year-old Norwegian striker, in his first season in English football, struck in the 70th minute at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to give the defending champions a 2-0 lead.
Haaland had equaled the previous record set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole on Sunday at Fulham with his 34th of the season. He went on his own two feet with the most Premier League goals in a single season with his final strike.
“It was a nice feeling, like every goal I score,” said Haaland. “Especially winning the match is very important.”
Haaland has now scored 51 goals in all competitions in a remarkable first year at City.
Erling Haaland: “I don’t know what else to say, but thank you very much!” pic.twitter.com/t54ORQvBrk
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) May 3, 2023
His performance is even more impressive considering that Shearer and Cole set the previous benchmark in an era when the league was played over 42 games. Haaland has five games left to extend his record.
Haaland left the field in front of a guard of honor from his City teammates to celebrate his achievement.
His father, Alfie Haaland, who also played for City, watched with a big smile from one of the boxes and took congratulatory handshakes from everyone around him.
“He deserved (the guard of honour),” manager Pep Guardiola said. “The whole team deserved it because without the team he couldn’t do it, but he is a special striker.
“We are very happy for him because he is a pleasure not only to work with him (as a) manager. I think everyone is happy to have him with us. I think in football when there is a special occasion we have to show how special it is, like (we did) today with Erling. To beat Andy Cole and Alan Shearer – incredible top, top strikers – is special.”
Top of the league
The win put the triple champions one point above Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, and with a game in hand they look set for a fifth title in six years.
The win came on the day 25 years after City were relegated to the third tier of English football in one of the lowest points in the club’s history.
The contrast with the team is now remarkable, although City – perhaps with next week’s visit to Real Madrid in mind – were far from their energetic best.
