Manchester City x Chelsea

Erling Haaland's hat trick propelled Manchester City to a commanding 4-2 victory over Chelsea in an English club football friendly on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. The reigning Premier League champions showcased their prowess with goals scored in rapid succession in both halves, leaving Chelsea struggling to keep pace in front of a packed crowd of 71,280.

Haaland, donning the captain's armband, wasted no time in making his mark, converting a penalty kick in the fourth minute. Moments later, a costly giveaway by Moises Caicedo allowed Haaland to unleash a powerful right-footed shot into the net, giving City a 2-0 lead within the first five minutes. City's dominance continued in the second half as Oscar Bobb extended the lead in the 55th minute, followed by Haaland's third goal just a minute later, capping off a stellar individual performance and establishing a 4-0 advantage.

Chelsea managed to reduce the deficit with goals from Raheem Sterling in the 59th minute and Noni Madueke in the 89th, but the damage had already been done. The match served as a thrilling preview for the upcoming 2024-25 Premier League season, with both teams set to clash again on August 18.

[Photography by Sean Faska]