Haaland Hits 100 As Man City Survive Crazy 5-4 Thriller
Haaland Hits 100 But City Survive Wild Finish
Erling Haaland brought up his century of Premier League goals as Manchester City survived a remarkable Fulham comeback in a madcap 5–4 win at Craven Cottage. What looked like a routine afternoon turned chaotic as City, 5–1 up and cruising shortly after half-time, were left clinging on for dear life in the closing stages. Fulham’s late surge produced three goals in 18 minutes and nearly the most unlikely point of the season.
A Landmark Goal Overshadowed by Chaos
Haaland became, by some distance, the quickest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, hitting the milestone in just 111 matches. The Norwegian needed only 17 minutes to find the net, becoming the 35th member of the Premier League 100 club. The previous quickest was Alan Shearer, who reached his century in 124 games back in 1995. Haaland had already rattled the post before Phil Foden found Jérémy Doku, whose low cross reached Tijjani Reijnders. He smartly stepped over the ball, allowing Haaland to crash a first-time finish into the roof of the net.
It was a moment that deserved centre stage, yet it soon became a footnote. Fulham responded midway through the half as Alex Iwobi played in Emile Smith Rowe, whose sharp turn forced a superb save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, a sign of the unpredictability to come.
City in Control Before the Collapse
City extended their lead in the 38th minute, this time with Haaland the provider. He held off Joachim Andersen on halfway before slipping in Reijnders, who lifted his shot neatly over Bernd Leno. Foden struck two minutes before the break, lashing a rocket into the top corner after Leno could only punch clear.
Smith Rowe pulled one back in stoppage time with a well-placed header, but City restored their dominance shortly after the interval. Haaland touched another Doku cross into the path of Foden, who finished calmly at the far post for his fourth goal in two matches. Doku added a fifth, his shot deflecting off Sander Berge and looping beyond Leno.
Fulham Fight Back Sparks Tense Finale
Iwobi curled home from 20 yards to make it 5–2, but substitute Samuel Chukwueze changed everything. He smashed in two goals in six minutes, and suddenly City looked rattled. With 12 minutes plus eight of stoppage time remaining, Craven Cottage was alive with belief.
Josh King almost snatched an incredible equaliser in stoppage time, but Josko Gvardiol’s goal-line clearance preserved the points. City move to 28, two behind leaders Arsenal, who face Brentford on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola will celebrate Haaland’s history, but he will know defending like this cannot continue if City are to challenge for another title.
