In a thrilling encounter at London Stadium, Jeremy Doku’s electric second-half performance helped Manchester City secure a comeback victory over West Ham, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League campaign. The reigning champions faced their toughest test yet this season but displayed the resilience that earned them a treble last year.
The first half was a bit underwhelming for City, as James Ward-Prowse’s diving header gave West Ham a 1-0 lead. However, the second half saw a revitalized City side emerge from the tunnel.
Summer signing Jeremy Doku introduced himself to the Premier League in style, scoring City’s first goal shortly after the break. His contribution ignited City’s comeback, with Julian Alvarez making the most of his starting opportunity by providing two crucial assists, including the setup for Doku’s goal.
Despite a relatively quiet performance for much of the game, Erling Haaland delivered the final blow in the 86th minute, securing all three points for City after Bernardo Silva had put them ahead. Haaland’s goal marked his seventh of the season and continued his impressive form.
Let’s take a closer look at how the individual players performed:
Goalkeeper & Defence:
- Ederson (7/10): Reliable when called upon.
- Kyle Walker (7/10): Faced challenges but improved in the second half.
- Ruben Dias (7/10): Solid defensively, dealt with Antonio effectively.
- Manuel Akanji (7/10): Successfully handled battles with Antonio.
- Josko Gvardiol (6/10): Had some shaky moments in attack.
Midfield:
- Rodri (7/10): Controlled the match’s tempo and contributed to counter-attacks.
- Bernardo Silva (7/10): Scored City’s second goal but struggled in a deeper role.
Attack:
- Julian Alvarez (8/10): Assisted both goals and positioned himself well.
- Erling Haaland (7/10): Missed opportunities but crucially found the net.
- Jeremy Doku (8/10): A standout performance, announcing his Premier League arrival.
- Phill Foden (5/10): Had minimal impact and was substituted for Nunes.
Subs & Manager:
- Matheus Nunes (6/10): Made his City debut but had trouble keeping pace.
- Sergio Gomez (N/A): Came on late in the match.
- Nathan Ake (N/A): Substituted on in stoppage time.
- Rico Lewis (N/A): Entered the game in injury time.
- Oscar Bobb (N/A): Had no significant impact.
Pep Guardiola’s halftime adjustments were crucial in sparking City’s incredible comeback, earning him an 8/10 rating as the manager. This thrilling match showcased City’s ability to overcome challenges and maintain their impressive start to the season.