Manchester City ended their pre-season tour of the United States on a high note, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick as they beat Chelsea 4-2 in a friendly in Columbus.
The Premier League champions were winless in their other games in the United States, losing 4-3 to Celtic and 3-2 to AC Milan and losing 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Barcelona. But they started the game eagerly, upsetting Chelsea with Haaland scoring twice inside the opening five minutes.
The Norway striker was brought down by Levi Colwill in the third minute and rose to score a double penalty after the referee ordered the kick retaken. Moments later, another defensive error allowed Haaland to pounce on a loose pass from Moises Caicedo and smash the ball into the bottom corner.
Chelsea had chances to reduce the deficit before the break when Stephan Ortega denied Christopher Nkunku’s shot and then, after a mistake by the City goalkeeper, Enzo Fernandes sent a long-range shot wide. Haaland and Jack Grealish both missed chances in front of the opposition goal, and the score remained 2-0 at half-time.
In the second half, Pep Guardiola’s side again scored two quick goals, Oscar Bobb scoring at the near post after James McAtee had passed to the winger, before Haaland made it three in the 56th minute, again with an assist from McAtee and a superb finish.
It was shaping up to be a difficult afternoon for Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca, whose side lost to Celtic and drew with Wrexham in a friendly in July, but his side made the scoreline look more respectable with Raheem Sterling’s volleyed goal and then Nkunku’s second-half strike past substitute goalkeeper Scott Carson.
Chelsea’s remaining pre-season matches include against Real Madrid and Inter, and Maresca will be looking to improve his team before facing City again in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on August 18. City’s only game before that is against Manchester United in the Community Shield next Saturday.
Tottenham They suffered their first pre-season defeat in front of 70,000 spectators, losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich in a sold-out friendly in Seoul.
Vincent Kompany’s side, without Harry Kane who is still rested after England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, started the game up front and Serge Gnabry went close to scoring before Gabriel Vidovic took advantage of a mistake by Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to put them ahead after just four minutes.
Leon Goretzka, who was not in Germany’s Euros squad, doubled Bayern’s lead just before the hour mark. Ten minutes later, Pedro Polo smashed a powerful shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards out, but Tottenham could not equalize. The teams meet again in a friendly in north London next Saturday.
Postecoglou feels his team’s recent form and the sweltering heat in the South Korean capital contributed to the defeat. “The players have been working hard here for 10 days and it paid off,” the Spurs manager said. “I think we will benefit a lot from this training camp but maybe we paid the price tonight.”
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Newcastle United Their tour of Japan ended in a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos in Tokyo for the J-League side, with Brazilian winger Elber and midfielder Jun Amano scoring in either half and new signing Lloyd Kelly making his debut at centre-back for the Magpies.
“I thought we started well but then we lost steam after we conceded the goal,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. “Obviously we’re disappointed with the result. We just didn’t have the power to cause any more damage to their goal.”
Everton They beat Preston 3–0 at Deepdale after Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Sean Dyche’s side ahead with a 19th-minute penalty before new signings Jake O’Brien and Jesper Lindstrom scored in the second half. The only negative for Dyche was the loss of Youssef Chermiti with a foot injury that will keep him out for several weeks.
Ipswich Midfielder Jack Taylor scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Hoffenheim in Austria. Leicester He also featured in a pre-season match against Bundesliga opposition, but lost 1-0 to Augsburg, with Adam Armstrong scoring the winning goal at the Den. Southampton By a narrow margin Millwall.
Danny Welbeck wins a penalty Brighton A 1-0 win over QPR, with Kevin Schade scoring the goal. Brentford The game ended in a 1-1 draw with Watford at Elland Road. Leeds First-half goals from Mateo Joseph and Georginio Rutter gave them a 2-1 win over Valencia.
