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Erling Haaland follows Man Utd and Liverpool legends in rare achievement with first-half hat-trick in massive win against Wolves
Erling Haaland showcased his scoring prowess with a stunning first-half hat-trick in Manchester City’s dominant 5-1 victory over Wolves on Saturday.
The Norwegian striker found the net twice within the opening 35 minutes and completed his treble in the third minute of stoppage time before halftime. This achievement marked the second time Haaland achieved a first-half hat-trick in the Premier League, a feat matched only by Andrew Cole and Michael Owen in the past.
Haaland didn’t stop there, adding a fourth goal early in the second half. His previous first-half hat-trick came in August 2022, during one of his earliest Premier League appearances, when he scored three times in the opening 38 minutes as City thrashed Nottingham Forest 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
3 – Erling Haaland is the third different player to score two first-half hat-tricks in Premier League history (also v Nottingham Forest last season), after Andrew Cole and Michael Owen. Magicians. #MCIWOL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2024
With his fourth goal against Wolves, Haaland’s tally for the Premier League season rose to 25, placing him five goals ahead of his nearest Golden Boot rival, Cole Palmer. Palmer’s next opportunity to narrow the gap comes on Sunday when Chelsea faces West Ham.
While Haaland may not reach the record-breaking 36 goals he achieved last season, he remains on track to secure another top scorer award. His goal-scoring threat in upcoming fixtures against Fulham, Tottenham, and West Ham will be crucial as City aims to surpass Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are currently one point ahead but have played one more game.
In addition to their league aspirations, City also has the chance to clinch a domestic double as they face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on May 25.