Haaland’s record scoring spree helps Man City to seventh Premier League win | Football
Manchester City Maintains Winning Streak Amid Financial Scandal
Published on October 18, 2026
MANCHESTER, England — Despite an ongoing financial scandal, Manchester City remains undeterred in its pursuit of success on the pitch. The team secured its seventh consecutive win of the Premier League season with a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium. Star forward Erling Haaland shone with two goals, bringing his season total to eight as the club continues to navigate a cloud of controversy.
City’s triumph came shortly after the club was found guilty of significant financial violations spanning nearly a decade, a verdict that threatens its standing in England’s top tier. Despite this, the team has appealed the decision and maintains its innocence.
Manager Enzo Maresca expressed confidence that the unfolding situation has united the players and fans. Supporters contributed to the defiant atmosphere by waving inflatable bananas, a nod to a quirky tradition from the 1980s. Before the match, they also jeered the Premier League anthem, demonstrating their solidarity with the club during turbulent times.
“The fans, the club, the players — we are all together in this journey,” Maresca said, highlighting the collective resolve amid uncertainty.
The chant “Going down with the City” echoed from the stands as the team extended its lead atop the league by six points. City’s momentum followed a challenging Champions League encounter, where they suffered a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Haaland, who became the fastest player in Premier League history to score 100 non-penalty goals, achieved this milestone in just 139 matches. However, concerns were raised as he and substitute Antoine Semenyo left the field limping after the game, particularly following a late challenge on Haaland.
“We will see,” Maresca commented on Haaland’s condition. “He said he was OK, so hopefully, it is nothing serious.” The manager suggested Semenyo’s injury may be more concerning.
Maresca also made history by becoming the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games. “I didn’t expect to win seven out of seven,” he acknowledged, while praising the team’s efforts.
Earlier in the weekend, Liverpool secured a comeback victory against Brentford, winning 2-1 despite losing two players to injuries during the match. After trailing to a first-half header, Liverpool capitalized on a man advantage following a red card for Brentford’s Yehor Yarmoliuk and scored twice in the second half. However, Liverpool also faced injury setbacks with Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong leaving the field.
In other matches, Aston Villa celebrated a 1-0 victory at Newcastle, courtesy of a goal from Johan Manzambi, while Fulham received a crucial boost with a 1-0 win over Hull City, marking their first league victory of the season.
As the Premier League season progresses, Manchester City and its rivals continue to navigate a landscape of competitive play and off-field challenges.
