By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Manchester City survived a dramatic second-half fightback from Sunderland to secure a 5-3 victory in an eight-goal Premier League thriller on Sunday.
City took the lead in the ninth minute when Enzo Fernandez produced a stunning free-kick into the top-right corner, but Sunderland quickly responded through Brian Brobbey three minutes later to level the score.
Rayan Cherki restored City’s advantage in the 29th minute after Antoine Semenyo helped him finish from close range following a scramble inside the Sunderland penalty area.
Brobbey then struck again in the 33rd minute, firing a low effort inside the left post to make it 2-2 and keep Sunderland firmly in the contest.
City regained the lead shortly before half-time when Semenyo collected a rebound outside the box and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Robin Roefs in the 43rd minute.
The hosts went into the break leading 3-2, setting the stage for an absorbing second half.
Semenyo extended City’s advantage in the 57th minute, capitalising on a Sunderland mistake before smashing the ball into the net to make it 4-2.
Sunderland refused to surrender, however, with Brobbey completing his hat-trick in the 59th minute after reacting quickly inside the box to reduce the deficit to 4-3.
The visitors continued to threaten, with Malick Fofana testing Gianluigi Donnarumma and Daniel Ballard later striking the post as Sunderland searched desperately for another equaliser.
City finally put the contest beyond Sunderland in the 81st minute when Erling Haaland latched onto a pass inside the box and fired into the bottom-right corner to make it 5-3.
The goal survived a VAR review after an initial check for offside, allowing City to celebrate a decisive finish.
Sunderland continued pressing until the final whistle, but City held firm to claim all three points in a match that produced eight goals and sustained drama from start to finish.
