Manchester City continued their impressive start to the 2024-25 Premier League season with a commanding 4-1 victory over newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024. The match was characterized by a rapid goal surge from City, overcoming an early setback to secure their second win of the season.Ipswich Town initially shocked the hosts by taking the lead in the 7th minute through Sammie Szmodics. However, Manchester City’s response was swift and decisive. Erling Haaland equalized from the penalty spot in the 12th minute, followed by Kevin De Bruyne’s goal in the 14th minute. Haaland then added his second just two minutes later, completing a remarkable three-goal blitz in just 191 seconds.The Norwegian striker completed his hat-trick late in the game, scoring in the 88th minute with a powerful long-range shot. This performance brought Haaland level with Wayne Rooney on seven Premier League hat-tricks.Manchester City’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with standout performances from several players. Bernardo Silva and Savinho were particularly praised, with the latter winning the penalty and pressuring Ipswich goalkeeper Aro Muric into a mistake.The victory propels Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table with 6 points from two matches, ahead of Brighton on goal difference. City’s perfect start to the season now stands at 7-0-0 across all competitions.Ipswich Town, despite their early goal, struggled to contain City’s attacking prowess. As Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna noted, ‘It can get easier and they refused to fold completely,’ highlighting the resilience of his newly-promoted side against the reigning champions.Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, ‘It is a testament to the hard work of our players and the dedication of our team’. The match also saw the return of Ilkay Gundogan, making his second debut for City after rejoining from Barcelona.
Key points
- Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick in Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Ipswich Town.
- Manchester City overcame an early deficit with three goals in 191 seconds.
- The victory puts Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with 6 points from two matches.
- Ilkay Gundogan made his second debut for Manchester City after rejoining from Barcelona.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported timing of goals across different sources, particularly for Haaland’s third goal, which is variously reported as occurring in the 83rd, 87th, 88th, and 89th minutes.
