The build-up to the quarter-final tie was dominated by the return of Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany to the Etihad Stadium, and the Burnley boss would have been pleased with his side’s start to the encounter. Nathan Tella, who has scored 19 goals this season, demonstrated his confidence when he tried his luck from range, forcing Stefan Ortega into a save low down to his right.
However, Burnley’s hopes of reaching their first FA Cup semi-final since 1974 were obliterated by Haaland in the space of three minutes. After racking up five goals in Man City’s 7-0 demolition of RB Leipzig in midweek, the Norwegian picked up where he left off, poking the ball past the onrushing Bailey Peacock-Farrell to bring up his 40th goal of the campaign. Just moments later, Haaland was celebrating once again, as he calmly guided home Phil Foden’s accurate low cross, giving his side a comfortable HT lead.
If the visitors were hoping the Premier League champions may show some mercy after the interval then they were to be left bitterly disappointed. Peacock-Farrell did his utmost to keep the deficit at two, denying both Riyad Mahrez and Haaland. However, there was nothing the helpless Burnley goalkeeper could do to prevent the Norway international from sealing his hat-trick just before the hour mark. Foden’s driven effort struck the post, but Haaland was in the right place at the right time to thump the rebound into the net. A fourth was quickly added by a rampant Man City side, as Julián Álvarez had the simple task of tapping home from Kevin De Bruyne’s squared pass.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, a Peacock-Farrell parry landed in the path of substitute Cole Palmer, who swept the ball into the Burnley net to open his account for the season. The hosts refused to relent, adding a sixth through Álvarez, who chopped the ball onto his left foot before smashing an unstoppable strike past the Burnley goalkeeper.
After suffering just a fourth competitive defeat of the 2022-23 campaign, the Clarets will focus on their promotion bid, while Man City remain in the hunt for a potential treble.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Erling Haaland (Manchester City
