West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
by Paul Donovan
at London Stadium

WEST HAM succumbed easily to a Manchester City side playing well within themselves at the London Stadium on Sunday.

The home side somehow managed to start the season without four recognised centre-backs — Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Nayef Aguerd all injured, Issa Diop not available to play — forcing full-back Ben Johnson to play as makeshift in the role, with Declan Rice playing deeper than usual to try to cover.

The one cause for optimism came with some nice touches from new striker Gianluca Scamacca. But the headlines were taken by new City striker Erling Haaland, who clinically took his two chances.

The first came after City had dominated first-half possession.

Haaland was put through by Ilkay Gundogan into the penalty area, where substitute keeper Alphonse Areola brought the big Norwegian down.

Haaland duly converted the penalty to register his first goal for City.

The away side were unlucky not to go further ahead after half time when a ball was swept across, finishing with Gundogan driving wide.

West Ham then rallied, with substitute Said Benrahma forcing a save out of Ederson.

But the West Ham comeback was quickly snuffed out when Kevin De Bruyne found Haaland with a brilliant through-ball. The striker duly finished, stroking the ball under the advancing Areola.

West Ham’s best effort came in the 72nd minute when Vladimir Coufal found Scamacca with a cross from the right. The big striker’s header was pushed wide by Ederson at full stretch, though Scamacca would have been ruled out for offside.

West Ham manager David Moyes admitted to being outwitted by City, who played their full-backs so far upfield. “Tactically they were best. We tried to press but couldn’t,” he admitted. “They completely outplayed us.”

City manager Pep Guardiola described his team’s performance as “exceptional in every way.”

He was pleased with Haaland's performance, but said he would not solve all the problems but be part of the team.

“We want to add something more to his game, to make him a better player,” he said.