Donnarumma saves City as Haaland strike sinks courageous Coventry

On paper, this looked like it should have been a routine City win. But Coventry refused to play their assigned role.

Frank Lampard’s side arrived at the Etihad as underdogs, still waiting for their first point and first goal of the season, yet they made a fast and fearless start that could easily have changed the whole afternoon.

Match highlight

Inside 10 minutes, Gianluigi Donnarumma made a major error when he allowed the ball to run through his legs. The City goalkeeper recovered just in time, scrambling back to clear it off the line.

Coventry then had an even bigger chance. A loose pass from Antoine Semenyo was intercepted by Taiwo Awoniyi, who raced through one-on-one with Donnarumma. But with the goal at his mercy, the forward dragged his effort narrowly wide of the post.

Semenyo made amends in the 26th minute. Showing real determination on the byline, he somehow kept the ball alive and delivered a cross that looked impossible to make. Haaland was waiting in the right place and headed home to give City the lead.

It was Haaland’s 20th goal in 21 Premier League appearances against promoted sides, another remarkable record for the Norwegian striker.

Coventry did not collapse after that. They continued to defend with real commitment, making important blocks to deny Enzo Fernandez a goal on his City debut and stopping Haaland from adding a second before half-time.

City thought they had doubled the lead just before the hour mark when Haaland finished after Fernandez held the ball up inside the area. However, the new Argentina signing had been offside in the build-up, and the goal was ruled out.

That gave Coventry fresh belief. They absorbed long spells of City pressure and nearly found a shock equaliser when Loum Tchaouna struck instinctively from the edge of the area, forcing Donnarumma into a diving save.

The Italian goalkeeper had to be even better 10 minutes from time. Ellis Simms met the ball from close range, but Donnarumma threw himself in the way and took the effort full in the face to preserve City’s lead.

Enzo Maresca’s side eventually survived the late pressure to make it 3 wins from 3 at the start of the Premier League season. Coventry, though, remain without a point or a goal after a difficult opening to life back in the top flight.