August 04, (THEWILL) – Manchester City concluded their pre-season tour of the United States with a 4-2 victory over Chelsea in Ohio. Erling Haaland led the charge with a hat-trick, demonstrating his readiness for the upcoming Community Shield match against city rivals Manchester United.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with Haaland converting a penalty in the opening minutes. He quickly doubled City’s lead, capitalising on a Moises Caicedo error. Oscar Bobb extended the advantage in the second half, followed by Haaland completing his hat-trick. Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke scored late consolation goals.
Despite City underperforming based on squad expectations, Haaland’s clinical finishing proved decisive. The Norwegian striker contributed to their win by registering the most shots (four), shots on target (three), and touches in the opposition box (seven) among all players.
Still, Pep Guardiola’s side displayed impressive form ahead of their Community Shield fixture, scheduled for next week. The match provided valuable insights into City’s attacking chops and highlighted areas for improvement in their defensive setup.
This pre-season victory sets a positive tone for City’s 2024/2025 campaign. With Haaland in top form and the team showing cohesion, City appear well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead in domestic and European competitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
