Brian Brobbey scored a historic hat-trick against Manchester City, but Sunderland were beaten 5-3 in a chaotic Premier League thriller at the Etihad Stadium.
The Dutch striker ended his goal drought in spectacular fashion, scoring in the 12th, 33rd and 59th minutes. His first came from Enzo Le Fée’s pass, his second from close range after City failed to clear, and his third arrived when Nilson Angulo beat Gianluigi Donnarumma to Granit Xhaka’s pass before Brobbey bundled the ball into an empty net.
Brobbey became the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick against Manchester City since Jamie Vardy did so for Leicester City in a 5-2 win in September 2020. He was also the first Sunderland player to score a top-flight hat-trick since Jermain Defoe in 2016.
Despite his individual brilliance, Brobbey became only the sixth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick in a losing cause, and the first since Roque Santa Cruz for Blackburn Rovers against Wigan Athletic in December 2007. He is the fifth different player to suffer that fate.
Manchester City led three times in the first half through Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, only for Brobbey to twice bring Sunderland level. Semenyo added his second in the 57th minute, Brobbey responded again two minutes later, and Erling Haaland finally settled the match in the 81st minute with a close-range finish from Josko Gvardiol’s cross.
Brobbey’s performance was all the more impressive because Sunderland created the better quality of chances overall. They recorded 4.25 expected goals from 17 shots, with eight on target, while Brobbey alone posted 2.91 xG and 2.73 expected goals on target. He finished with three goals from five shots and also hit the crossbar.
City maintained their perfect start and moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League, but Enzo Maresca will be concerned by a defensive display that repeatedly allowed Brobbey to bully Rúben Dias and expose space behind the home side’s high line. Sunderland left without points, but their striker’s display was one of the most remarkable individual performances of the season so far.
