Manchester City took on Chelsea at the Ohio Stadium, Columbus, in their final pre-season friendly of their tour of the USA.
Manchester City beat Chelsea in their final pre-season friendly of their tour, thanks to a clinical Erling Haaland hat-trick.
City were handed a two-goal lead within five minutes – first when Jack Grealish intercepted a loose ball in the area to set up Haaland, who won and converted a penalty to the delight of the fans in the stadium.
Seconds after the restart, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo passed straight to Haaland and he made no mistake with the finish past Robert Sanchez. Stefan Ortega avoided a mistake of his own when Christopher Nkunku lobbed wide after he gave the ball away, but City were largely in control after their early head-start.
It was three when Oscar Bobb was fed by James McAtee to score with a smart finish inside the box. Just like the first-half goals, City were gifted a second within a minute – McAtee getting another assist in quick succession for Haaland to wrap up his hat-trick.
Raheem Sterling got one back against his former club before Noni Madueke added a second in the closing minutes, but it was City who left the USA with a belated win and a morale-boosting performance.
This is how MEN Sport rated the City players at the Ohio Stadium:
Stefan Ortega
One good save to preserve a clean sheet in the first half, but was lucky not to concede when he passed straight to Nkunku but the lob dropped just wide. 6
Rico Lewis
Another steady, classy performance at right-back should lock him in for that position at Wembley. Kyle Walker can have as long as he needs to build up fitness. 7
Kalvin Phillips
Once again, a solid performance at centre-back. If City didn’t have so many players in that position, he might have done enough to stake a claim for a position-change, but he’s probably only confirmed that he doesn’t have a future in midfield. In isolation, a good game. 7
Josko Gvardiol
One good block in the first half to stop a shot, and a solid outing in general. He said on Friday that he feels fit and ready for the new season, with this performance backing that up. 6
Josh Wilson-Esbrand
Forced off with injury at the break, but a decent game before that. Beaten once by Nkunku but fairly solid otherwise. 6
Mateo Kovacic
City just look better when he plays. Some nice touches, good positioning and one or two of those driving runs that are becoming a bit of a trademark. In Rodri’s absence, Kovacic’s quick acclimatisation is welcome. 7
Nico O’Reilly
Built on his goal vs Barcelona with another confident outing. He’s got better and better with each game on this tour and you can see why Guardiola likes him. In the manager’s words, City have a player on their hands. 7
James McAtee
Better again, did everything right – and a smart assist for Haaland’s hat-trick goal. Guardiola will probably like the fact that he’s done the unspectacular very well. 7
Oscar Bobb
One dazzling run along the byline deserved more and his goal was that of a player full of confidence. He ends the tour with two goals and three assists in four games – a very, very good trip for the winger. 8
Jack Grealish
Made the first goal with his interception and could have had a goal later in the first half. He stayed calm in the face of aggravation from Enzo Fernandez. Good evening to round off the kind of tour he needed. 7
Erling Haaland
Two goals in the first five minutes to make it four from four on tour in the first half – and completed a hat-trick in the second half with another one-on-one finish following a Chelsea mistake for a fifth of the summer. Clinical. 8