Six-hit City power past Burnley into the FA Cup semi-finals

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At the end of a week which had seen the Norwegian claim a Premier League winner at Crystal Palace and then claim five against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, Haaland’s rich vein of form continued as City saw off the challenge of Vincent Kompany’s Championship leaders.

Haaland struck twice inside three minutes just after the half hour mark to knock the stuffing out of the visitors.

And he then completed a second treble inside four days 14 minutes into the second half to take his tally for the season to an incredible 42 goals.

Amidst a raucous Etihad atmosphere, Alvarez – fresh from signing a contract extension earlier this week – then bagged a brace with substitute Palmer also getting on the scoresheet as Pep Guardiola’s side stormed into the last four and a guaranteed date at Wembley next month

What happened

There was a full house and vibrant atmosphere which was only heightened by the return to the Etihad of City legend Vincent Kompany now in charge of the Championship leaders who was afforded a rapturous reception by the crowd.

A day rich in emotion was further amplified by a rousing ovation for another City legend and Club ambassador, Mike Summerbee, following last week’s award of his OBE for services to football and charity.

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It was a fast and frenzied opening with City dominating possession and territory but Burnley tenacious in the tackle and squeezing space and time where they could with Kompany urging them on.

And it was the visitors who carved out the game’s first chance on 18 first chance fell to Burnley’s Nathan Tella who powered in a low shot from just outside the box which forced Stefan Ortega into a low scrambling save as he pushed the effort wide.

It then needed a crucial tackle from Ruben Dias to dent Tella a clean shot on goal as the Clarets striker raced onto Josh Cullen’s precision through ball with Burnley also demonstrating they could mix silk and steel to significant effect.

But out of nowhere the breakthrough arrived on 31 minutes through the irrepressible Erling Haaland as the goal machine chalked up his 40th strike of this incredible season.

Haaland wrestled possession from a long Ortega clearance with the ball falling to Julian Alvarez midway in the Clarets.

The Argentine threaded through a superb pass which split the visitors defence to the advancing Haaland and as Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell came out to challenge, the City striker prodded a first time shot home into the unguarded net.

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As so often with City – and Haaland – one then became two in the blink of an eye as he and we doubled our advantage within three breathless minutes.

Phil Foden was the architect this time, sprinting down the left channel onto Kevin De Bruyne’s weighted ball before threading in a pinpoint cross to the waiting Haaland.

In an instant the striker guided the ball the wrong side of Peacock-Farrell with a deft left foot finish into the corner of the net to make it eight goals in seven days in this extraordinary debut season.

Ortega then had to be alert on the brink of half time as he denied Ian Maatsen to send City in perfectly poised at two goals to the good.

Six minutes after the restart only the outstretched leg of Peacock-Farrell prevented Riyad Mahrez further extending our advantage as he latched onto Kyle Walker’s inviting cross.

And the Burnley keeper’s left knee was there again two minutes later to deny Haaland was seemed an inevitable hat-trick.

He wasn’t to be denied though and the treble duly arrived on 59 minutes as Haaland showed his quick thinking to guide home a rebound after a Foden shot had struck the bottom of the post.

With the Etihad rocking, Julian Alvarez then got in the goal scoring act on 63 minutes to round off a fine week of his own which had seen him sign a new contract extension.

It was sublimely worked goal too. Mahrez drives at the Burnley defence, before splitting them with a pass who rolls the ball across for the Argentine to finish.

Then it was substitute Cole Palmer’s turn to get on the scoresheet as barely two minutes after coming on for Haaland he latched onto a clearance from Peacock-Farrell to fire home the rebound and make it five.

It wasn’t over there. Alvarez demonstrated his power and pace he raced past Al-Dakhil on 72 minutes before lashing home a stunning shot.

Teams

CITY XI: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Dias (Akanji), Laporte, Lewis (Gomez 65), Rodrigo (Phillips 65), De Bruyne (C) (Grealish 89), Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden, Haaland (Palmer 62)

Subs: Ederson, Stones, Aké, Gündogan.

BURNLEY: Peacock-Farrell, Roberts, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Maatsen, Cullen, Gudmundsson (Cork 45), Tella, Zaroury, Vitinho, Foster

Subs: Muric, Taylor, Barnes, Twine, Bastien, Obafemi, Dervisoglu, Benson

Man of the match

There were a host of standout individual displays but after yet another memorable Etihad treble it had to be Haaland.

An outstanding marksman at the peak of his powers, Haaland continues to carve his name in City and English folklore, even though he hasn’t even had a full season here yet!

Incredibly, his six hat-tricks this season are more than every other Premier League player combined.

And with more than two months of the season to go, who knows what tally he will finally end up with?

Pep Guardiola reaction

“It’s been a good month with Newcastle, Leipzig, Crystal Palace and today it was a good one, a tough game. They went man for man with only [goalkeeper] Stefan Ortega free.

“We had to play more direct to Erling [Haaland] and the wingers. Second half was much better. I was really impressed.

“It’s not a surprise to see what Burnley are doing in the Championship. Next season we will face them [in the Premier League].”

Forty something

Prior to today’s game the FA Cup was the only competition in which Haaland had failed to find the target this term.

His two-goal blast inside three first half minutes soon addressed that issue and served as another reminder – as if any were needed – of his outstanding predatory prowess.

As with the very best professionals in any field, he makes the very difficult look ridiculously easy.

Inevitably, the Norwegian then completed a sixth hat trick of the season early in the second half.

In the process he chalked up his 42nd goal of the season to become only the sixth player to register 40 plus goals in all competitions in a single season.

Just for the record its now 28 goals in the league, 10 in the Champions League, one in the Carabao Cup and three in the FA Cup.

What a signing he has proved to be.

For their part, Burnley will no doubt be thankful they don’t have to come up against his ilk again for the remainder of this season.

What it means

City are through to a sixth FA Cup semi-final in seven years.

We now await the draw which will take place tomorrow evening following the conclusion of the remaining quarter-final ties.

We will have first news of who we face on mancity.com and our official app as well as confirmation of dates and kick off times as soon as they are announced.

What’s next

With the March international break now taking centre stage, it means City are not in action again until April.

We return with a huge Premier League assignment at home to Liverpool here at the Etihad on Saturday, April 1, kick-off 12.30pm.

That sets the scene for what will be a titanic month with huge matches awaiting in the league, FA Cup and Champions League.

Can’t wait!

Erling Haaland reaction

“It has been a good couple of last games, important games. 7-0 and 6-0 is impressive and I’m really happy.

“Every goal means a lot to me it doesn’t matter, every goal for the team means a lot. To win 6-0 is an amazing thing against a good Burnley side. So I’m really happy.

“I think we’re in that part of the season where we should be at our best. Now it’s where things get decided. We have to perform every single game.

“The last couple of games has been finals. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing. I’m proud and happy.”