Manchester City faced off against Burnley in the fifth round of the FA Cup on February 10, 2021, and the match was nothing short of exciting as Borussia Dortmund target, Erling Haaland, stole the show by scoring a hat-trick against City.
The first half of the match saw both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances, but it was City who dominated possession and looked the more dangerous side. However, Burnley’s resolute defensive display kept City at bay, and the score remained goalless heading into halftime.
City started the second half with more urgency, and it was Raheem Sterling who broke the deadlock in the 49th minute. Following a lovely pass from Gabriel Jesus, Sterling rounded Burnley keeper, Nick Pope, and slotted the ball home to give City the lead.
City’s joy was short-lived, as Burnley’s Ashley Barnes scored a stunning equalizer just nine minutes later. Barnes chested down a cross from the right and volleyed the ball into the top corner, leaving City keeper, Ederson, with no chance of making a save.
From then on, it was all about Haaland, as the Norwegian striker scored a quickfire brace in the 72nd and 75th minutes to send Burnley into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Haaland’s first goal was a product of his perfect positioning, as he slotted home from close range following a cross from the left-wing. His second goal was a thing of beauty, as he received the ball on the edge of the City box, took a touch, and blasted the ball into the top corner to make it 3-1 to Burnley.
City tried to mount a comeback in the remaining minutes of the match, but Burnley’s solid defense held firm, and the match ended with a final scoreline of 3-1 in Burnley’s favor.
After the match, Haaland expressed his delight at scoring a hat-trick against one of Europe’s best teams, saying, “It’s always special to score against Manchester City, but to score a hat-trick against them is just amazing. I’m happy to help Burnley through to the next round of the FA Cup, and we’ll see who we get in the next round.”
City manager, Pep Guardiola, was disappointed with his team’s performance, but also praised the quality of Haaland’s goals, saying, “It’s always tough to lose a match, but we have to give credit to Burnley who defended very well and took their chances when they came. Haaland is a top-class striker and he showed why today. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
The defeat to Burnley means that City’s hopes of winning a quadruple this season are now over, as they have already won the Carabao Cup and are still competing in the Premier League and the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Burnley will be looking to capitalize on their victory and push on in the FA Cup, as they aim to secure their first trophy since winning the competition back in 1914.
Overall, the match between City and Burnley was a thrilling encounter, with both teams giving their all to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. While City will be disappointed with their performance, Burnley will be delighted with their victory, especially as it was secured by the magical performance of Erling Haaland.