City continued their perfect start to the Premier League season with a thumping 5-1 win at home to Marco Silva&aposs side. Haaland netted his first hat-trick of the campaign, following first-half goals from Julian Alvarez and Nathan Ake.
However, Fulham were left frustrated by the latter effort in which Ake headed in a corner during added-time. The Cottagers&apos defence had pushed up, leaving Manuel Akanji offside, and the City defender jumped over the ball before it rippled the net.
The majority of those inside the Etihad expected the goal to be chalked off, but a lengthy VAR review adjudged it to have been fair and Michael Oliver gave the goal. Fulham boss Silva was fuming with the decision and Haaland had sympathy for his opponents.
“It was the perfect end of the week,” Haaland admitted after the match. “It&aposs good to be back. In the end we win 5-1 and it&aposs well deserved.
“I think it was offside as well, I feel bad for them, I would be fuming after this as well. It must be a horrible feeling for them.
“Last year was also difficult to start but we&aposve been taking more points now. In the end, it&aposs been a perfect start because we&aposve won four games, but we have a much higher level and it&aposs about working towards that.”
Former referee Mike Dean was equally sure about the mistake, telling Soccer Saturday it was &apos1,000 per cent&apos offside.
“The goalkeeper can&apost go straight away because he has to wait and when he does move, it&aposs too late,” he said. “The player has to be interfering.
