Manchester City EDS moved top of the Premier League 2 after 6-4 victory away at West Ham. A Nabil Touaizi hat-trick, Benjamin Garre double and another from Rabbi Matondo ensured all three points for City on the road in a ten-goal thriller.
West Ham found themselves down to ten men during the first half after Tunji Akinola received his second yellow card of the game. They did manage to make the game tough for City, with goals coming from Xande Silva, josh Cullen, Alfie lewis and Oladapo Afolayan.
What happened
Paul Harsley made six changes to the side that beat Arsenal in last week’s thrilling season opener. Tom Stott started in goal for City, with Colin Rosler, Eric Garcia, Joel Latibeaudiere and Nathaniel Ogbeta forming the defence in front of him. Rabbi Matondo, Caludio Gomes and Iker Pozo formed a midfield three, flanked by Adrien Bernabe and Benjamin Garre. Nabil Touaizi started up top.
Fresh off the back of hitting six past Arsenal, City continued their incredible scoring form, netting after just ten minutes. Last week’s hat-trick hero Nabil Touaizi was the man to open the scoring, finishing off a fine passing move by calmly slotting home past Nathan Trott in the Hammers goal.
Not content with just one early goal, City went 2-0 up just eight minutes later. This time it was Benjamin Garre who finished well past Trott, notching his second goal of the season.
In search of a second hat-trick in a row, Nabil Touaizi scored City’s third of the game on 34 minutes. Nabil chipped keeper Trott after City won possession on the half way line and played in Touaizi.
Just three minutes after the goal, the home side’s day was made even worse. Tunji Akinola was shown his second yellow card of the game after a poor challenge on Rabbi Matondo.
West ham did manage to pull on back before half time, Xande Silva putting the ball past Scott from 15 yards out. Josh Pask with the assist after a strong run.
West ham pulled another goal back on 72 minutes when Joe Powell’s free kick found Josh Cullen in the box. He nodded home to get the home side back in the game.
The Hammers barely even had chance to celebrate though. City restored their two-goal lead just moments later when a defensive mix-up allowed Rabbi Matondo to slot home and make it 2-4.
Then came an incredible injury time, featuring no less than 4 goals! Firstly, West ham pulled another one back when Alfie Lewis put in the rebound after Ben Johnson’s shot was saved by Scott.
That wasn’t it though. City scored just seconds later when Benjamin Garre rounded Trott to score his second and City’s fifth of the game.
West ham then made the game even more nail biting. In a bizarre sequence of events, substitute Oladapo Afolayan scored his first goal for the club to make it 4-5.
And in the final twist of what was in an incredible game, City added a sixth. Nabil Touaizi secured his second hat-trick of the season and put the game to bed for the Blues.
What it means
Manchester City go top of the Premier League 2, leap frogging West ham in the process. City now have a 3-point lead at the top of the table.
Up next
Next up, City will host Liverpool at the CFA in the Premier League 2. The game will take place on Friday 24thAugust, and will kick off at 7:00 PM (BST).
