By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:28 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 22:28 BST, 28 August 2026
LONDON (AP) - Rayan Cherki scored two goals in five minutes and Erling Haaland also got a brace as Manchester City won at Crystal Palace 4-1 to maintain its perfect start to the Premier League on Friday.
Haaland, the league top goal-scorer last season, opened his account after 17 minutes with a neat header.
Cherki doubled the visitor´s lead early in the second half when he danced through a nest of players and poked the ball home from close range.
However, Palace reduced the deficit almost immediately when Yeremy Pino's superb free kick hit the bar and then rebounded into the net off the despairing back of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Cherki, though, was in devastating form and restored City's two-goal advantage two minutes later when his deflected shot from just outside the box wrong-footed keeper Dean Henderson.
It was the first brace of his Premier League career.
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, right, celebrates with Erling Haaland after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in London, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Haaland rounded off the scoring with a left-footed strike six minutes from time and City was on top of the league with six points from its first two games.
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Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in London, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland gestures to Referee Andy Madley during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in London, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)