Chelsea were given a shock loss by Nottingham Forest as Anthony Elanga’s goal proved to be the difference on the day. Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur hit five goals against Fulham and Burnley respectively, as Erling Haaland and Son Heung-Min hit hat-tricks on the day.
Elanga emerged as the hero for Forest on Saturday and the decisive moment came in the 48th minute when the Swedish forward capitalized on a midfield blunder by Chelsea, receiving a pass from Taiwo Awoniyi and calmly slotting the ball past Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez.
Despite their high-priced roster and dominant possession, Chelsea struggled to penetrate Forest’s solid defense. Their intricate passing and Raheem Sterling’s dynamic runs failed to yield the crucial goal they needed. Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea’s main striker, squandered a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute, sending his shot soaring over the bar.
The victory was a significant one for Nottingham Forest, allowing them to leapfrog Chelsea in the Premier League standings. Their defensive prowess was on full display, effectively neutralizing threats from Sterling and Jackson, and ensuring they walked away with all three points.
Manchester City continue perfect start to season
Manchester City continued their flawless start to the Premier League season with a resounding 5-1 victory over Fulham. The champions, who have now won all four of their opening games, were led by a second-half hat-trick from Erling Haaland, who continues to shatter records in his remarkable career.
The scoring was opened by Julian Alvarez and Nathan Ake, marking the 15th consecutive league meeting in which City has triumphed over Fulham. Despite an early equalizer from Fulham’s Tim Ream, the Cottagers were unable to withstand the onslaught from the league leaders, who now sit comfortably at the top of the table with a full 12 points.
Haaland, who set numerous scoring records last season, achieved another milestone during the match. He became the quickest player to reach 50 goal contributions, amassing an impressive tally of 42 goals and nine assists in just 39 Premier League appearances.
The match wasn’t without controversy, however. Ake’s goal, scored just before the halftime whistle, was initially thought to be disallowed due to Manuel Akanji’s offside position. Akanji, standing in front of Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, leapt over the ball as it made its way into the net. However, after a review, VAR confirmed the goal’s validity, much to the chagrin of the Fulham side.
Tottenham Hotspur hit Burnley for five
Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean captain, Son Heung-min, put on a spectacular performance, netting three goals in a 5-2 rout of Burnley. These were his first goals of the season, marking an impressive start for the left winger.
The match didn’t start well for the Spurs, with Burnley’s Lyle Foster finding the back of the net just four minutes into the game. However, Tottenham quickly regained their footing, with Son equalizing in the 16th minute with a cleverly executed finish. The first half concluded with Cristian Romero firing a powerful shot from the edge of the box, giving Tottenham the lead.
The second half saw James Maddison extend Tottenham’s lead to 3-1 with a beautifully curled shot in the 54th minute. Not long after, Son showcased his prowess once again, scoring two quick goals and completing his hat-trick. This commanding victory propelled Tottenham to second place in the Premier League table, boasting 10 points from their first four games.
Despite a late goal from Burnley’s Josh Brownhill, the home team remained without a point, having lost all their opening games. The match was a testament to Tottenham’s strength and resilience, maintaining their unbeaten start to the Premier League under the leadership of Son Heung-min.
With that win Tottenham moved to second in the Premier League points table to continue their brilliant start to the campaign.
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