Brian Brobbey hat-trick not enough as Manchester City win eight-goal thriller

Brian Brobbey produced a superb hat-trick at the Etihad Stadium, but Sunderland still left empty-handed as Manchester City secured a dramatic 5-3 Premier League victory.

Enzo Maresca’s side led three separate times during an extraordinary first half, only for Sunderland to repeatedly fight back. Antoine Semenyo eventually gave City breathing room after the interval before Erling Haaland settled the contest late on.

For Sunderland, Brobbey’s individual performance was the major positive from a game in which their resilience ultimately went unrewarded.

City needed only nine minutes to open the scoring when Enzo Fernández caught Robin Roefs out with a free-kick.

Sunderland’s response was immediate. Three minutes later, Enzo Le Fée supplied Brobbey, whose excellent first touch created the opportunity to finish for 1-1.

Rayan Cherki restored City’s advantage following effective pressing from the hosts, but Sunderland again required little time to respond. Thomas Meunier released Brobbey, who finished confidently for his second.

City still managed to enter half-time ahead as Semenyo struck in the 43rd minute to make it 3-2.

Semenyo scored again from close range in the 57th minute, seemingly putting City in control for the first time.

Brobbey had other ideas.

The Dutch international converted his third of the afternoon to complete his hat-trick and reduce Sunderland’s deficit to a single goal once more.

That ensured the contest remained alive until the closing stages, when Haaland finally made it 5-3.

The assistant referee initially raised the flag, but VAR intervened and the goal was awarded. It was another notable VAR moment involving City after the controversy surrounding their recent Manchester derby victory.

There was no way back for Sunderland this time.

Brobbey could leave Manchester with a Premier League hat-trick, but City’s attacking quality ultimately proved too much for Régis Le Bris’ side.

City will take encouragement from scoring five and finding goals from several different attacking players, although conceding three at home gives Maresca something to address.

Sunderland leave without points despite Brobbey’s outstanding individual display, with his hat-trick demonstrating the attacking threat he can provide Le Bris this season.