Match ends, Luton Town 2, Manchester City 6.
Erling Haaland scored five in a stunning display of finishing as holders Manchester City thrashed Luton to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
It was the Norwegian's eighth hat-trick for City and he also became the first player to score five in a game twice for the club.
City opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Kevin de Bruyne, who assisted the first four goals, was allowed time and space to cut the ball back for Haaland to convert.
The pair combined again 15 minutes later, with Haaland running on to a through ball before powering it past Luton goalkeeper Tim Krul and it was a similar move that brought the third, only this time with a delicate dink to finish.
Jordan Clark pulled one back for Luton with a stunning strike, curled beautifully into the top corner from 25 yards on the stroke of half-time and gave Rob Edwards' side hope of a memorable comeback with a thumping finish seven minutes into the second half.
However, Pep Guardiola's team soon dashed those hopes when De Bruyne squared for Haaland to tap into an empty net after a superb pass from Kyle Walker had sent the Belgium midfielder clear.
Haaland got his fifth - matching his effort against RB Leipzig in last season's Champions League last 16 - when his low shot went straight through Krul, who then saw a long-range strike from Mateo Kovacic flash past him for the visitors' sixth.
Luton had opportunities in the second half with Stefan Ortega, starting in place of Ederson for City, forced into action a number of times. City might easily have added to their lead at the other end but once Haaland was replaced with 15 minutes to go, there was not the same ruthlessness and the hosts were spared any further punishment.
The one sour note for City was an injury to Jack Grealish, who was forced off late in the first half, but they are now unbeaten in 18 games and remain in pursuit a second consecutive treble.
De Bruyne dazzles but Haaland takes the headlines
There was some surprise at the strength of the City XI before the game but Guardiola's decision was rewarded with a clinical showing from his side.
De Bruyne was brought back in and it quickly became evident that he was in the mood.
That there might even be the slightest debate over the man of the match when Haaland scored five seems absurd but De Bruyne's performance, especially in the first half, was such that the debate was warranted.
Luton simply could not live with his sheer athleticism. The 32-year-old overwhelmed them time and again with his pace and power. Add in his game intelligence and technical brilliance and the effect was devastating.
Of course, it was made all the more destructive by a masterful striking performance from Haaland.
Luton centre-back Teden Mengi did all he could to make life hard for the former Borussia Dortmund striker but Haaland had the power to deal with the defender's presence as well as the movement and timing of runs to leave the defender trailing.
Once presented with the chances - and De Bruyne made sure he was - the outcome was never in doubt.
It is now 79 goals in 83 games for Haaland since moving to the Etihad Stadium and, with him in this kind of form, things are starting to look ominous for City's challengers on all three fronts.
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- Relive Luton v Manchester City and all of Tuesday's FA Cup action
Player of the match
De BruyneKevin De Bruyne
Luton Town
Avg
- Squad number6Player nameBarkleyAverage rating
7.29
- Squad number18Player nameClarkAverage rating
7.12
- Squad number45Player nameDoughtyAverage rating
6.56
- Squad number9Player nameMorrisAverage rating
6.45
- Squad number14Player nameChongAverage rating
6.36
- Squad number30Player nameTownsendAverage rating
6.34
- Squad number7Player nameOgbeneAverage rating
6.29
- Squad number38Player nameJohnsonAverage rating
6.24
- Squad number10Player nameWoodrowAverage rating
6.17
- Squad number27Player nameHashiokaAverage rating
6.12
- Squad number16Player nameBurkeAverage rating
6.05
- Squad number15Player nameMengiAverage rating
6.02
- Squad number29Player nameBellAverage rating
6.01
- Squad number23Player nameKrulAverage rating
5.96
- Squad number17Player nameMpanzuAverage rating
5.89
Manchester City
Avg
- Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
8.30
- Squad number9Player nameHaalandAverage rating
8.16
- Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating
6.72
- Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating
6.64
- Squad number52Player nameBobbAverage rating
6.54
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarezAverage rating
6.50
- Squad number6Player nameAkéAverage rating
6.34
- Squad number11Player nameDokuAverage rating
6.31
- Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating
6.31
- Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.31
- Squad number82Player nameLewisAverage rating
6.31
- Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating
6.23
- Squad number25Player nameAkanjiAverage rating
6.19
- Squad number18Player nameOrtegaAverage rating
6.15
- Squad number21Player nameGómezAverage rating
6.10
- Squad number27Player nameMatheus NunesAverage rating
5.93
Line-ups
Luton
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 23Krul
- 16Burke
- 15Mengi
- 29BellSubstituted forJohnsonat 39'minutes
- 7OgbeneSubstituted forHashiokaat 62'minutes
- 18ClarkSubstituted forMpanzuat 62'minutes
- 6Barkley
- 45Doughty
- 9Morris
- 14Chong
- 10WoodrowSubstituted forTownsendat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shea
- 2Osho
- 8Berry
- 17Mpanzu
- 27Hashioka
- 30Townsend
- 38Johnson
- 43Nelson
- 44Piesold
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 18Ortega
- 2Walker
- 5StonesSubstituted forBobbat 77'minutes
- 25Akanji
- 6AkéSubstituted forGómezat 77'minutes
- 8Kovacic
- 27Nunes
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forLewisat 77'minutes
- 17De Bruyne
- 10GrealishSubstituted forDokuat 38'minutes
- 9HaalandSubstituted forÁlvarezat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Rúben Dias
- 11Doku
- 16Rodri
- 19Álvarez
- 21Gómez
- 31Ederson
- 47Foden
- 52Bobb
- 82Lewis
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 11,163
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away15
- Corners
- Home2
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Luton Town 2, Manchester City 6.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Daiki Hashioka.
Post update
Attempt saved. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Oscar Bobb.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ross Barkley (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andros Townsend with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Johnson with a cross.
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Oscar Bobb (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Alfie Doughty (Luton Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matheus Nunes.
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Attempt saved. Andros Townsend (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Carlton Morris.
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Foul by Rico Lewis (Manchester City).
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Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Rico Lewis replaces Bernardo Silva.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Gómez replaces Nathan Aké.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Julián Álvarez replaces Erling Haaland.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Oscar Bobb replaces John Stones.
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Matheus Nunes (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alfie Doughty (Luton Town).
Goal!
Goal! Luton Town 2, Manchester City 6. Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by John Stones.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
Comments
Join the conversation
No shame just pride. COYH
It’s not fair!
What was José Mourinho thinking when he got rid of KDB at Chelsea.
He got rid of Salah as well. What a Spanner, Rodney!
All made possible by Dr Bruyne though. The term 'world class' is thrown around too easily but in De Bruynes case it's not enough.