SAN FRANCISCO, November 28, (THEWILL) – Right winger Riyad Mahrez produced a hat-trick performance as Manchester City answered critics of their early-season form with a 5-nil flogging of Burnley at the Etihad.
Two goals in the first half allowed the Algerian international surpass 100 goal involvements in the Premier League and put City in commanding control early.
It was six minutes into the game when Mahrez opened the scoring. He slotted home from playmaker Kevin De Bruyne’s pass after a slick City move was initiated from a loose pass by Burnley centre back James Tarkowski.
Mahrez made it 2-0 16 minutes later. He skipped into space as he received a throw-in from right back Kylie Walker and fired a shot in off the left-hand post with the Burnley defence napping.
It could have been three in the 25th minute when centre forward Gabriel Jesus had the ball in the net with a clean header but the assistant referee’s flag spared Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s blushes by correctly picking out the offside Ferran Torres.
It was a welcome relief that quickly dissipated. The defense gave De Bruyne enough time to clip a cross to left back Benjamin Mendy, who turned a controlled finish beyond Peacock-Farrell. It was his first club goal since March 2017 in a Coupe de France match between Monaco and Marseille.
The fourth goal came in the 66th minute. Prolific youngster Torres side-footed into the net after Jesus’ clever lay-off from a Kyle Walker delivery.
Another young player, midfielder Phil Foden, had been on the pitch as a substitute for just 93 seconds when he recorded an assist as his cross into the box was nodded home by the unmarked Mahrez.
Peacock-Farrell nightmare could not get any better when, in the 75th minute, he turned the ball into his own net. However, for the second time in the match, he was spared by another offside call.
De Bruyne crashed a shot off the post in injury time but 5-0 was how it ended as City made it seven wins in a row against the Clarets by an incredible aggregate scoreline of 28-1.
City next head to Porto on Tuesday, having already qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Burnley are at home to Everton next.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
