Erling Haaland runs wild in 5-1 rout as Hwang Hee-chan bags consolation goal

Football

Published: 05 May. 2024, 10:49 Updated: 05 May. 2024, 17:26

Erling Haaland runs wild in 5-1 rout as Hwang Hee-chan bags consolation goal

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan looks dejected at the end of a match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Saturday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

“The Korean guy” struck again in Manchester City’s 5-1 rout of Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, Hwang Hee-chan picking up the visitors' only goal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester as his old teammate Erling Haaland ran wild with four of his own at the other end of the pitch.

Pep Guardiola’s squad made short work of Wolves on Saturday, taking a 3-0 lead in the first half with just a couple of games separating them from defending their Premier League title.

A 12th-minute penalty gave the home side an early lead, effectively shutting down what little opposition Wolves had to offer and turning the remaining 78 minutes into a very one-sided affair.

Haaland’s four goals — sometimes called a haul, although the terminology gets a bit vague once you pass a hat-trick — included two penalties, with Julian Alvarez adding No. 5 in the 85th minute after being substituted on for a visibly annoyed Haaland moments before.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, right, celebrates with Bernardo Silva after scoring his side's opening goal during a Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Hwang took his chance in the 53rd minute, knocking in a deflection from Ederson to give Wolves at least some skin in the game, even if it was too little and far too late.

Saturday’s blowout splits Wolves and City at 1-1 for the season, with the midlands club having emerged victorious in their home fixture in September last year. Hwang scored the winner in that game, a serendipitous moment after Guardiola had forgotten his name and called him “the Korean guy” a few days earlier.

The Korean guy had his moment again this weekend, taking him to a career-best 12 goals this season, despite having missed nine games with an injury and for the Asian Cup. The goal also takes him to 20 Premier League goals over his three seasons in the English league.

Speaking after Saturday’s game, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil blamed the early penalty for his side’s loss.

“I don’t think the first one’s a penalty, but at 1-0 we had a real good spell with the ball — a long spell and created a couple of moments with Channy up and around the goal,” O’Neil said.

“If they hadn’t been given that start, it maybe would have felt a bit different, but the fact that they were in front and we didn’t manage to make anything of that spell that we had, and then we gave them a soft second goal, it becomes very difficult then.”

Over in the City camp, Guardiola was more focused on the ongoing fight for the title than the result of Saturday’s game. With just a handful of games remaining, City’s season could be made or broken in the next week.

“One week left, three games left — nine points we will be champions,” he said. “Seven, six or three points, Arsenal will win the Premier League.

“Goal difference is not possible [to overhaul], we cannot draw. The way Arsenal have been playing has been so good and consistent. It’s three games, hopefully we win the first and the second and arrive at the third [West Ham] with our destiny in our own hands.”

Guardiola was quick to praise Haaland, saying the Norwegian juggernaut “is back to business,” although admitting he had been unhappy to be substituted off in the final frame of the game.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland talks to Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan after a game at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Saturday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Haaland, who played with Hwang at Red Bull Salzburg and took some time to catch up with his old friend during the game, showed his typical flair for understatement talking to reporters after the match.

“Not bad – 25 goals this season, thanks for that,” he said. “We keep going. I’ve got a not-too-bad manager who pushes me and look at the players around me. Without them it would not be possible. Look ahead, look to the next one — four finals left for the season [including the FA Cup final]. We’re going to go for it and focus on Fulham.

“First of all it’s about winning the games but of course you want to have the best possible goal difference. Let’s not think about that — think about Fulham.”

Wolves will be back in action next Saturday as they take on Crystal Palace, before facing Liverpool in their final game on May 19. City have three games still to play; against Fulham next Saturday, Tottenham the following Tuesday and West Ham on May 19.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]