Haaland at the double as City pips Porto
Manchester City kicked off its Champions League campaign with a win as Erling Haaland scored twice in its 2-0 victory over Porto at Estadio do Dragao.
Having opened its Premier League campaign with three consecutive wins, Enzo Maresca’s strong start to life in the City top job continued in Portugal.
It was Haaland who made the difference again, having also scored Saturday's winner against Coventry City. He followed up his 47th-minute header with a cool finish in stoppage time, taking his goal tally in the Champions League to 59, the seventh-most of all time.
After a tepid start, City took control of the match, with Antoine Semenyo cutting inside and forcing Diogo Costa into making the first of several saves in the first half.
Semenyo was involved again moments later as his incisive pass picked out Phil Foden. His cross was met by a towering header from Haaland, but Costa was on hand to punch the ball behind for a corner.
The visitor's grip on the encounter continued to tighten, and they should have taken the lead in the 32nd minute. Haaland's right-footed shot was repelled by Costa, before the Porto goalkeeper sprung back to his feet to deny Rayan Cherki's attempt on the rebound.
However, Porto's resistance was broken two minutes after the restart when Enzo Fernandez's cross was headed in off the left post by Haaland after Cherki did brilliantly to keep the ball in play before off-loading to the Argentina midfielder.
But Francesco Farioli's side responded well to going behind, with Alberto Costa's header across goal just evading a touch from Nehuen Perez, before Alan Varela whipped a curling effort just wide of the target.
Maresca's men were able to navigate that wave of Porto pressure, however, despite Donnarumma nearly being caught out when his clearance was closed down by William Gomes, and the away side came on strong again in the closing stages.
Rayan Ait-Nouri fired wide with his weaker right foot, before Elliot Anderson saw his shot tipped over by Costa, and the win was sealed in the 91st minute by the in-form Haaland.
After Mateo Kovacic recycled possession, he slipped in Ait-Nouri, who delivered for Haaland to pick out the bottom-right corner with a sweeping finish and get City off to a winning start in their quest for European glory.
Erling Braut Haaland
Manchester City FC
