In a goal-filled encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City outlasted Sunderland in a 5-3 slugfest on Sunday afternoon.
An incredible first-half ended 3-2 in City's favour, with Enzo Fernandez's first goal in blue quickly cancelled out by Brian Brobbey, before the striker netted again following Rayan Cherki's strike, and Antoine Semenyo rounding off the scoring in a frantic opening period.
Things hardly calmed down in the second-half, as Semenyo's second goal was instantly followed by a hat-trick for Brobbey, making it a nervy time for the Blues until Erling Haaland finally wrapped up the game to ensure his side have won all five of their league games and go into the international break top of the table.
Sunderland are a difficult proposition when on top form and the Black Cats came flying out the traps, playing through City and dominating the early exchanges. The first chance of the game fell their way when a cross went right through the area to Nilson Angulo, but the winger wasn't expecting it and miscued his shot.
This is a City side playing with such confidence just now though, and they took the lead with their first sight of goal; Iliman Ndiaye led a swift breakaway and was hacked down on the edge of the penalty area, and from the resulting free-kick, Fernandez caught Robin Roefs out at his near-post with an audacious effort to open his account in blue.
But the visitors made good on their early promise, and equalised immediately. Enzo Le Fee burst through City's midfield line and slotted a pass in between Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes for Brobbey, who took it cleanly and flicked beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma for an instant response.
An open game had its third goal on the half-hour mark though, and this one restored City's advantage. Good team pressing from the Blues allowed Ndiaye to tee up Erling Haaland, and though the ball got away from the Norwegian, it fell for Semenyo, who fed Cherki for a clinical low finish beyond Roefs.
Again though, within minutes it was level again. Le Fee was key once more, sliding a delicious pass between the lines for Thomas Meunier, who unselfishly teed up Brobbey for a tap-in; City were being cut through far too easily.
But by the same token, Sunderland seemed incapable of stopping City at the other end, and on the stroke of the break, the hosts hit the front for the third time. Cherki delivered deep for Marc Guehi and the defender tried to chest it down, with the ball contested and breaking to the edge - where Semenyo was waiting to lash in a cracking finish, his first of the season.
There could have been a sixth goal before half-time too, as Semenyo led a breakaway and found Ndiaye, who attracted the defenders before giving Haaland what seemed to be an unmissable opportunity; somehow though, the striker slid wide on his weaker foot. Soon after, Brobbey went close to a hat-trick, as his strike looped up off of a deflection and landed on the crossbar.
And the madness didn't stop in the second-half, as City were finally able to open up a bit of daylight between themselves and their visitors. Cherki's through-ball for Haaland was partially cut out by a pair of Sunderland defenders, but they got in a tangle and it dropped to Semenyo, and the winger produced his second thumping strike of the afternoon for 4-2.
The pattern of the game repeated itself once again though, because no sooner had City scored than Sunderland responded. Granit Xhaka's deep pass to Angulo deceived Nunes and the forward cut the ball back, with Brobbey on hand again to complete his hat-trick and provide another twist to the tale.
4-4 isn't a scoreline which would have surprised anybody watching this encounter, and it took a goal-line clearance from Dias to keep that from happening when Dan Ballard beat Donnarumma to a set-piece and headed for goal. Another big block was needed from the follow-up, as Josko Gvardiol threw himself at a goal-bound strike.
Instead, it became 5-3 in the closing stages. Substitute Jeremy Doku picked out a great ball for Gvardiol in the channel, and the Croatian found Haaland to finally get on the scoresheet at the back post - and, after the offside flag initially went up, a rare VAR decision went in the Blues' favour to allow the goal and finally seal the game, although respective chances for Nico O'Reilly and Ballard followed.
Here's how we rated the players in Manchester City's incredible battle with Sunderland!
Sunderland were happy to allow him the ball, and that proved vindicated as he struggled with his long-range distribution. Can't especially be blamed for conceding three close-range chances.
Had a handful to deal with in the form of Angulo, and didn't exactly cover himself in glory on the first and third Sunderland strikes. Did some good work in his individual duels, in fairness.
Never shies away from physical duels with strikers, but Brobbey had the beating of him this afternoon. Some wayward passing and playing Meunier onside for the second Sunderland goal regrettably completed an off day for the Manchester City captain, although he made amends somewhat with a crucial goal-line clearance at 4-3.
Not as involved as his defensive partners, but wasn't as able as he has been so far this season to put out the fires and calm the backline down.
Another of the backline to endure a difficult afternoon facing his own goal. Sunderland's second came down his side, and he often struggled to track back from his advanced starting position for counter-attacks. Conversely, did good work on the ball and collected a fine assist for Haaland.
Wasn't able to impress as much as he has throughout the rest of his start to life at City, but very few midfielders would have been able to in such an open environment. Bustled around putting out fires where he could, and did commendably, despite Sunderland breaking through the gaps around him in the middle.
Was a key presence with his punchy passing, although perhaps should have done more to support Anderson in the midfield battle. Acted sharply and intelligently to grab his first City goal.
Still awaiting that first goal, but another highly impressive afternoon from City's new winger. He worked exceptionally hard going both ways and gave Sunderland's backline all manner of headaches on the ball.
Can't be accused lacking focus here, a criticism levelled at him by some in the past week. Dropped deep to help control things, but equally was a threat with his through-balls going forward, and hit his goal well.
**Antoine Semenyo - 8.5 (POTM)**
The explosive outing we've been waiting for since his starring role in pre-season. Too often wasteful in recent weeks, he put it all together here, smashing in two goals and assisting another.
It would have been a true rarity for City to go goal-crazy without the big man getting in on the act! He tried to lead the line where he could, often finding it difficult against Sunderland's physical approach, but he kept plugging away and finally got his reward.
Fantastic impact off the bench after so long out. Was crucial to the fifth goal, and nearly set up Nico O'Reilly for a goal immediately after coming on.
Added a bit of steel in midfield, and was unlucky to be denied from scoring in his very first involvement.
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