Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 in a chaotic eight-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 20 September 2026. Antoine Semenyo scored twice and Erling Haaland sealed the win late on, despite a hat-trick from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey.
Man City vs Sunderland: Final Score and Goalscorers
Manchester City 5-3 Sunderland (Premier League, Etihad Stadium)
- Enzo Fernández, 9' (City): a clever free-kick
- Brian Brobbey, 12' (Sunderland): finished from a long pass that left him unmarked
- Rayan Cherki, 29' (City): a low finish after Semenyo's pass
- Brian Brobbey, 33' (Sunderland): tapped in, after a long onside check confirmed the goal
- Antoine Semenyo, 43' (City): a low strike from the rebound
- Antoine Semenyo, 57' (City): made it 4-2
- Brian Brobbey, 59' (Sunderland): completed his hat-trick to make it 4-3
- Erling Haaland, 81' (City): a close-range finish, confirmed after a VAR check
Match Report: How City Held Off Sunderland
Fernández gave City the lead within nine minutes, but that was only the beginning of the mayhem. Brobbey levelled for Sunderland three minutes later. Cherki put City back in front, then Brobbey equalised again, with Sunderland cutting through City too easily. Semenyo restored City's lead just before the break, making it 3-2 at half-time in a game where both sides found defending very difficult.
The second half kept the same pace. Semenyo made it 4-2, but Brobbey struck straight back for his hat-trick and Sunderland were within one goal again. Haaland had been kept fairly quiet up to that point, but he found space in the box to settle the contest nine minutes from time. Even then, Sunderland came close to a late equaliser in stoppage time.
Man City vs Sunderland Stats
Possession was 57% to City and 43% to Sunderland, but the shot count tells the story of the game: City had 15 shots and Sunderland 16, with six on target each. Neither side kept a clean sheet in a match where the visitors, who had scored in each of their last nine away league games, were never out of it.
What the Result Means
For Manchester City: It was their fifth win in five Premier League games, and it leaves them three points clear at the top of the table. That gap opened up because Arsenal lost at Brighton the day before. Haaland has now scored in nine of his last 10 appearances, for a total of 11 goals in that spell. Enzo Maresca will be pleased with the result but not the defending.
For Sunderland: They have now failed to win in 18 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top two. Brobbey and Enzo Le Fée, who was central to their attacks, were outstanding, but Sunderland could not defend well enough to take any points from a game they could easily have won.
What's Next for Manchester City?
City travel to Liverpool on 11 October, then host Ipswich on 17 October and visit Aston Villa on 24 October.
FAQ: Man City vs Sunderland
What was the score in Man City vs Sunderland?
Manchester City won 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium on 20 September 2026.
Who scored in Man City vs Sunderland?
For City: Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo (2) and Erling Haaland. For Sunderland: Brian Brobbey (3).
Did Brian Brobbey score a hat-trick?
Yes. All three of Sunderland's goals were his.
Who is top of the Premier League?
Manchester City, three points clear after winning all five of their games.
0 Comments