Haaland scores five as Man City destroy Luton in FA Cup
Ellie Holland scored five goals in a thrilling show of finishing as Manchester City, the current holders, defeated Luton Town 6-2 to go to the FA Cup quarterfinals.
The clinical Norwegian gave the home team chills on a chilly, late winter’s evening at Kenilworth Road as he blasted his way to a first-half hat-trick and then sealed five goals by the 58th minute.
The 23-year-old became the first player to score five goals in a game twice for City in the process, and he also claimed his ninth hat-trick for the team.
Haaland received assistance from the incomparable Kevin De Bruyne for four of his first four goals.
Haaland, a former attacker for Borussia Dortmund who had only scored once in the previous 350 minutes, also made history by being the only player to score five goals in an FA Cup game since George Best, the renowned Northern Irishman who scored six goals for Manchester United 8-2 Northampton in 1970.
Surprising Hatters manager Rob Edwards described the two in his post-match remarks, saying only, “They were sensational.”
While Kevin is a less self-centered player in front of goal, Pep Guardiola’s assessment was more cautious but no less accurate, stating: “Kevin needs the movement from Erling [to provide assists].”
At Kenilworth Road, Haaland gives the visitors a 1-0 lead after Kevin De Bruyne’s assist three minutes in.
After just eighteen minutes, Haaland scored his second goal of the game to make it 2-0, thanks to a through pass from De Bruyne, who also recorded his second assist.
The prolific Norwegian almost made it three on the half-hour mark, but after Harland had followed up De Bruyne’s opening shot, his drive went straight at Hatters keeper for the evening, Tim Krul, instead of the rested Thomas Kaminski, who gathered.
Despite City’s dominance Luton provided resistance of sorts, when Alfie Doughty cut inside to fire a shot narrowly past City’s keeper for the night, Stefan Ortega.
It proved to be fleeting as Haaland grabbed a first half FA Cup hattrick in only 40 minutes with De Bruyne notching a trio of assists.
