Record setting Haaland fires City into Champions League QF
Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after he scored his 5th goal, the 6-0, during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Credit: AP/Dave Thompson
MANCHESTER, England — Erling Haaland scored five goals in a record-setting performance to fire Manchester City into the Champions League quarterfinals.
The Norway striker became the fastest player and youngest to reach 30 goals in the competition in City's 7-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
His record-equalling five goals in a Champions League match follows in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano.
City advanced to the final eight with a 8-1 aggregate win after a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the round-of-16 matchup.
Haaland needed only 25 games to reach 30 goals, which surpassed the record held by Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker reached that benchmark in 34 games.
At 22 years, 236 days old, Haaland is also the youngest player to score 30 goals in European club soccer's most prized competition. Mbappé was 22 years, 352 days when he reached that figure and Messi was 23 years, 131 days.
Of most importance to City is the fact that it is a step closer to winning a first Champions League title in the club's history.
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, right, embraces Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Credit: AP/Dave Thompson
Haaland fired the Premier League champions ahead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Benjamin Henrichs was adjudged to have handled in the box after a video review.
Haaland had his second and his 30th in the Champions League when heading in a rebound in the 24th after Kevin de Bruyne hit the bar.
He had his hat trick in the the second minute of first-half stoppage time when bundling the ball over line after Ruben Dias hit the post with a header.
Ilkay Gundogan made it 4-0 just four minutes into the second half and Haaland scored two more in the 54th and 57th.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland is embraced by Ruben Dias, right, after scoring during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Credit: AP/Dave Thompson
De Bruyne rounded off the scoring to make it 7-0 on the night with a curling shot into the top corner in the 91st.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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