Cherki Double Fires Man City to 4-1 Win Over Palace
Rayan Cherki’s quickfire double inspired Manchester City to a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace, spoiling Pierre Sage’s welcome party at Selhurst Park.
Erling Haaland, wearing a black armband in tribute to the late Norwegian King Harald V – whose death was announced earlier on Friday – opened the scoring with a 17th-minute header before adding a late second in the 84th minute.
Enzo Maresca made just one change from City’s season-opening win over Bournemouth, bringing in Cherki for Rico Lewis – a decision that paid off handsomely during a chaotic six-minute spell in the second half.
Palace had chances early on, with Adam Wharton releasing Eddie Nketiah, who found himself on the wrong side of Ruben Dias and could only fire into the side-netting under the watch of England boss Thomas Tuchel in the stands. Daichi Kamada also had an effort blocked, and the hosts won a couple of corners before City took control, with Elliot Anderson forcing a diving save out of Dean Henderson.
City’s pressure told when the ball fell loose in the box, though Jorgen Strand Larsen – also wearing a black armband in tribute to his compatriot – denied Haaland at close range with an alert clearance. The Norwegian wasn’t kept out for long, though, heading City in front from Antoine Semenyo’s cross.
Palace had a glorious chance to level before the break when Tyrick Mitchell was left unmarked from Wharton’s cross, but he headed wide.
Nketiah stabbed wide moments after the restart before Cherki doubled City’s lead, exploiting sloppy home defending with neat footwork to slot beyond Henderson. Palace hit back almost immediately through Yeremy Pino, whose free-kick cannoned off the post and in off Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 2-1.
City responded within three minutes, Cherki netting again – his effort taking a deflection off Chris Richards on its way past Henderson to restore the two-goal cushion.
Palace were briefly reduced to ten men when referee Andrew Madley invoked the new 10-second substitution rule, delaying Oscar Mingueza’s Premier League debut, but they were back to full strength by the time Haaland lifted the ball over Henderson six minutes from time to complete the scoring and hand Maresca back-to-back Premier League wins as City boss.
