Haaland saved the day for City and spared Joao Cancelo's blushes as the striker's spot kick secured a 2-1 win over Fulham.

Cancelo had left City short-handed after an embarrassing red card, which came shortly after Julian Alvarez gave the Etihad Stadium hosts a deserved early lead.

City was seeking a 13th consecutive win against Fulham across all competitions yet the hosts' hopes nosedived soon after the opener when Cancelo was ordered off in the 26th minute for a poor challenge on Harry Wilson.

It handed Fulham a penalty that Andreas Pereira tucked away.

Fulham was moments away from a point when Kevin De Bruyne was tripped by Antonee Robinson and a second penalty of the game was awarded.

Haaland's strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time was almost saved by Bernd Leno but the ball squirmed under the goalkeeper.

Haaland, who began on the bench after missing two games with a foot injury, replaced Alvarez in the 64th minute and had a goal disallowed for a tight offside before holding his nerve from 12 yards at the death.

The Norwegian ace described his penalty against Fulham as "one of the most nervous moments of my life" as he fired City a point above Arsenal who are away at London rivals Chelsea this week.

"A penalty in the last minute, of course I would be nervous but it was an amazing feeling," he said.

"I don't care how it went in, it is about it going in. I love it. I have been injured for a week, and it is really important to win."

Haaland said: "When you go 10 v 11 for 70 minutes, it is difficult; I don't think any team would do it as good as we did it today."

He has scored 16 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances, matching the most goals by any player in a 10-game period in the competition, previously achieved in 2013 by Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

 "I am so tired, but so happy. You have no idea," the 22-year-old Haaland said.