Manchester City needed all five goals to protect their perfect Premier League start. Antoine Semenyo struck twice, Brian Brobbey answered with a Sunderland hat-trick, and the Etihad was still waiting for the contest to settle deep into the second half.
An afternoon that refused to calm down
City went ahead three times before they finally made the lead stick. Enzo Fernández opened the scoring in the ninth minute, only for Brobbey to reply three minutes later. Rayan Cherki restored City's advantage on 29 minutes; four minutes after that, Brobbey levelled again.
Semenyo then changed the shape of the match. His first goal arrived before the interval and his second made it 4-2 on 57 minutes. Even that did not finish Sunderland. Brobbey completed his hat-trick two minutes later and brought the visitors back within one.
Semenyo supplied City's decisive edge
Semenyo left the match with two goals and an assist. In a game where Sunderland kept finding a reply, his contribution gave City the extra attacking punch they needed.
His first strike sent City into half-time ahead. His second created the first two-goal cushion of the afternoon. That breathing room lasted only briefly, but without it Brobbey's third goal would have pulled Sunderland level once more.
Brobbey's hat-trick deserved more
There will be frustration in a Sunderland shirt, but Brobbey's finishing turned a difficult trip into a genuine contest. He scored in the 12th, 33rd and 59th minutes, answering City's first, second and fourth goals.
Few visiting forwards leave the Etihad with three goals. Fewer still do so without a point. Sunderland's attack gave City their hardest league afternoon of the season so far, even if the defensive cost was too high.
Haaland finally shuts the door
At 4-3, the match remained one clean Sunderland attack from another equaliser. Erling Haaland ended that threat in the 81st minute, turning in Joško Gvardiol's cross. The goal was awarded after the offside decision was overturned.
It was the first moment all afternoon when City could feel the points were secure.
Five wins from five
The 5-3 victory sends City into the international break with five Premier League wins from five and a three-point lead at the top. They have scored 13 goals across that run.
The perfect record is the headline. The three goals conceded are the warning. City found enough attacking quality to win an eight-goal thriller, but Sunderland showed how quickly the league leaders can be dragged into trouble when a lead is not protected.
Match details
Manchester City 5-3 Sunderland
Enzo Fernández 9', Rayan Cherki 29', Antoine Semenyo 43', 57', Erling Haaland 81'
Brian Brobbey 12', 33', 59'
Sunday 20 September 2026
Premier League
Etihad Stadium
See the final score and match record in the LiveFootballNow match centre.
What the result means
City could hardly have made a stronger start to the league season, but this was not a routine fifth win. Semenyo's sharpness and Haaland's late finish preserved the perfect run. Brobbey's hat-trick ensured the defensive questions will remain over the break.