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Erling Haaland Punishes Kristoffer Ajer Slip As Man City Beat Brentford

Originally posted on FanNation Futbol
By Robert Summerscales | Last updated 2/20/24

Erling Haaland scored his 17th Premier League goal of the season as Manchester City beat Brentford 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

City were frustrated for more than 70 minutes - during which time Brentford looked dangerous on the counter-attack - before Haaland made the breakthrough with a clinical finish.

Haaland capitalized on a slip by Kristoffer Ajer as he dribbled with the ball from near the halfway line before drilling a low shot past keeper Mark Flekken.

He doesn't miss those! ⚽️

Erling Haaland fires Man City in front after a costly slip puts him through on goal! pic.twitter.com/znIqDh9G6P
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 20, 2024

Flekken - who made eight saves in total - was beaten by Haaland again in the 80th minute but City were denied a second goal because Kyle Walker had been marginally offside in the build-up.

One goal was ultimately enough for Pep Guardiola's men as City kept a clean sheet for only the second time in six games.

Haaland makes Brentford his 21st EPL victim

Haaland had come up against Brentford twice before Tuesday without scoring.

But the 23-year-old has now found the net at least once against all 21 teams he has faced in his Premier League career.

21 – Erling Haaland has now scored against all 21 sides he’s faced in the Premier League; he’s just the second player to have played against more than two teams in the competition and scored against all of them after Harry Kane (32/32). Collector. #MCIBRE pic.twitter.com/rHuFdxzBiD
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 20, 2024