City Dominate Derby with Blazing HattrickCity Dominate Derby with Blazing Hattrick In a pulsating encounter at the Etihad Stadium, City emerged victorious over Derby County in the EFL Cup, thanks to a scintillating hat-trick from their talismanic striker, Erling Haaland. City started the match brightly, dominating possession and creating early chances. However, it was Derby who took a shock lead in the 20th minute when Luke Plange capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire home from close range. Unfazed by the setback, City continued to press forward and were rewarded shortly after the half-hour mark. Phil Foden’s deft cross found Haaland at the far post, and the Norwegian sensation made no mistake with a clinical finish. Just before the break, Haaland struck again to give City the advantage. Riyad Mahrez’s whipped cross skimmed past the Derby defense, and Haaland was on hand to thunder a header into the net. After the interval, Derby offered little resistance as City asserted their dominance. Haaland completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute with a stunning solo effort. He picked up the ball deep in his own half, shrugged off two challenges, and unleashed a powerful drive that arrowed into the top corner. The remainder of the match was a procession for City, who saw the game out with ease. The victory marked their fifth consecutive win in all competitions and extended their unbeaten run to nine matches. For Derby, the defeat was a harsh lesson against one of England’s most formidable teams. Despite a spirited performance in the first half, they were outclassed by City’s superior quality and clinical finishing. Haaland’s hat-trick was his first for City since his summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian striker has now scored 13 goals in his first eight appearances for the club, demonstrating his incredible goal-scoring prowess. City’s victory sets up an intriguing quarter-final clash against Arsenal, who they will face on December 20th. The defending champions will be confident of continuing their cup run and adding another trophy to their collection.
