Manchester City outgun Sunderland in 5-3 thriller as Brobbey hat-trick goes in vain

Manchester City climbed three points clear at the top of the Premier League after outgunning Sunderland 5-3 in a chaotic encounter at the Etihad Stadium, with Brian Brobbey's hat-trick for the visitors ultimately in vain.

Manchester City and Sunderland players in action during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium

Antoine Semenyo struck twice, while Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland also scored as City sent a message to Arsenal, moving three points clear as leaders for the three-week international break. Until the Premier League resumes on 10 October, City can enjoy the view from the top while Mikel Arteta's champions stew following Saturday's 3-0 humbling at Brighton.

Enzo Maresca had billed the contest as City's toughest test so far — and Sunderland, under Régis Le Bris, quickly proved him right, pinging the ball about and firing it quickly into the danger area. Maresca's side were entertaining for the neutral and heart-palpitating for their manager, lacking control in a game that swung violently from end to end.

Fernández masterstroke, then City fall asleep

Sunderland conceded first by allowing a break at a corner that ended with Dayann Methalie chopping down Iliman Ndiaye. From the resulting free-kick along the right-hand edge of the box, Fernández produced a moment of high skill: City's No 17 asked Ndiaye to alter position in the area, then guided the ball straight home on the near side, hoodwinking Robin Roefs — the Sunderland goalkeeper ended up on his backside.

It was a first City goal for Fernández since his equaliser for Argentina in the World Cup semi-final against England, and an excellent moment for City — only for them to fall asleep seconds later. Enzo Le Fée, one of Sunderland's star acts, split Rúben Dias and Matheus Nunes with a pinpoint pass into Brobbey, whose smart first touch allowed him to beat the onrushing Gianluigi Donnarumma with the outside of his right boot.

Cherki restores the lead, Brobbey answers again

When City felt too comfortable playing out from the back, they pounced again. Kevin Danso's loose pass from his own area was nabbed by Ndiaye and the ball went instantly to Haaland near the penalty spot. Semenyo took over, tapped to Cherki and the Frenchman made space and threaded in to make it 2-1 with half an hour gone.

Three minutes later the breathless opening period had another twist. Le Fée slipped in Thomas Meunier, the wide right forward crossed, and Brobbey could not miss. Following a prolonged VAR check over whether Brobbey and Meunier had strayed offside — it appeared marginal — Sunderland's equaliser stood.

Again Maresca's side suffered through naivety, and again they roved upfield and breached the visitors' rearguard. This time Cherki chipped Marc Guéhi from the right, provoking a scramble in the Sunderland area. The ball came out to Semenyo, who powered in to restore City's lead.

Manchester City players celebrate during their 5-3 Premier League win over Sunderland

By the interval it should have been 4-2, but the normally lethal Haaland splayed wide after Ndiaye teed him up. The last action of the half saw a mis-hit Brobbey effort nearly chip Donnarumma, who needed his 6ft 5in frame to tip the ball over.

Seven goals before the hour mark

Maresca surely wanted the match slowed down in the second half, with the ball at City's feet. Yet holes were still punched in them, as when Elliot Anderson was caught upfield and Noah Sadiki darted into space only to balloon his effort high and wide. Anderson may also have been fortunate not to concede a penalty when the ball struck his hand in the area — another sign of City's scruffiness.

Better was Semenyo's decisiveness that made it 4-2. Cherki's pass caused Nordi Mukiele a problem and, when the ball ran to Semenyo, the Ghanaian arrowed into the far right corner for his second of the afternoon. Could City breathe? No. Granit Xhaka delivered from the right, Nilson Angulo helped the ball on and Brobbey converted — seven goals before the hour mark in a match the Guardian described as “a basketball-like affair packed with incident”.

Haaland ends his Sunderland hoodoo

Sunderland had been the only Premier League team Haaland had not scored against, and it looked like staying that way after his first-half miss. But Jérémy Doku's introduction from the bench allowed Joško Gvardiol to slalom down the left, and the defender's cross to the far post was slid beyond Roefs by the Norwegian. Initially flagged offside, the VAR overturned the linesman's call and it was 5-3 — the end of the scoring on an afternoon that will not be forgotten soon.

There was even time for a moment that summed City up in microcosm: the normally calm Dias hitting the ball towards his own goal before scrambling to hoof it off the line.

What it means for the title race

Maresca will review this game because City lacked control and may not have enjoyed a win that featured so many defensive lapses. But the conclusion from the opening phase of the season is that City will compete with Arsenal to the end of the title race — providing they become less fragile.

For Brobbey, whose three finishes from close range were his first goals of the season for Sunderland, there was only the consolation of the match ball. For City, there are three points and top spot until the league resumes on 10 October.