ERLING Haaland became the quickest player to reach 100 goals in Premier League history on a night when Manchester City ramped up pressure on leaders Arsenal by fending off Fulham’s impressive fightback.
Norway international Haaland got his landmark goal in the 17th minute of Tuesday’s game at Craven Cottage, firing in first time from Jeremy Doku’s cross.
It meant he reached the century in 111 league games, 13 fewer than it took previous record holder Alan Shearer.
The goal also ended a mini drought for Haaland, having gone three consecutive games without scoring. It was his 15th goal in 14 league games this season but was just a taste of what was to come.
Haaland got the assist for Manchester City’s second, slipping the ball through for Tijjani Reijnders to coolly lift the ball over Bernd Leno and into the back of the net.
Leeds came back from 2-0 down to level 2-2 against Pep Guardiola’s side at the weekend before Phil Foden got a late winner, and the in-form forward must have thought he had quashed thoughts of a repeat of that when he got City’s third.
A fantastic header by Emile Smith Rowe moments later gave Fulham some hope at 3-1 down, but Foden got his fourth goal in two games soon after the break, smartly firing home at the near post from Haaland’s ball.
Doku’s shot then deflected in off Sander Berge to put City in a seemingly unassailable 5-1 lead.
But Fulham would not give in and Alex Iwobi curled in their second from 20 yards to signal a continuing threat to City, before substitute Samuel Chukwueze had the home side dreaming of an incredible comeback.
First, he drove in from a cross, before placing a neat finish into the back of the net six minutes later.
Momentum was with Fulham as home fans roared them on and City’s followers watched on nervously in the away end, and Josh King had a shot cleared off the line in the final seconds.
But City held on to secure a win that means they are just two points behind Arsenal, albeit having played a game more, with the Gunners hosting Brentford on Wednesday.
Fulham, meanwhile, are six points above the relegation zone but have played a game more than those sides below them.
