Man City 3-2 Ipswich: Haaland double makes Maresca first boss to win first seven Premier League games
Foden and a Haaland brace put City 3-1 up before Flemming's late penalty made it nervy. City stay perfect after seven games but pick up several knocks.
Manchester City kept their perfect Premier League start going with a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, 17 October. The game kicked off at 10pm Malaysia time. Phil Foden scored first and Erling Haaland added two more. A stoppage-time penalty from Zian Flemming made the last few minutes tense, but City held on for a seventh straight league win. The result also gave Enzo Maresca a place in the record books: according to the club, he is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League matches in charge of a club.
How the goals came
Maresca made six changes from the midweek Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, and Foden returned to the starting line-up. He opened the scoring in the 19th minute, finishing from close range after Jeremy Doku pulled the ball back from the left.
The lead lasted two minutes. Daizen Maeda got in behind Marc Guehi and slid a low finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 1-1. City were back in front in the 34th minute when Haaland headed in a Mateo Kovacic cross.
Haaland put City two goals clear in the 69th minute with a left-footed finish from Iliman Ndiaye's through ball. Late on he thought he had a hat-trick, but the goal was ruled out because Enzo Fernandez was offside in the build-up. Ipswich then got a lifeline in the 90th minute. Guehi fouled Abdul Fatawu, a penalty was given after a VAR check, and Flemming scored it. City saw out the remaining minutes.
Records for Maresca and City
The win keeps City top of the table with 21 points from seven games. The club said seven straight wins equals their best-ever start to a league season, first set in 1897-98. The Associated Press reported that City are only the third team to win their first seven games of a Premier League season.
Foden's goal was his first in the Premier League since last December, according to Yahoo Sports' match report. He was back in the starting line-up for the first time since his red card in the Manchester derby, the club noted.
Injury worries before AEK Athens
The win came at a cost. Kovacic was hurt after an Ipswich corner and was replaced by Fernandez early in the second half. Matheus Nunes went off in the 75th minute, with Abdukodir Khusanov coming on. Antoine Semenyo looked hampered late in the game, and Haaland appeared to limp off with a possible foot problem. The extent of the injuries was not clear after the game.
City's next game is at home to AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday, 20 October. It kicks off at 8pm UK time, which is 3am on Wednesday, 21 October in Malaysia.
Ipswich show they can compete
Gary O'Neil's Ipswich went into the weekend 10th, on nine points from six games. They lost, but they caused City problems throughout. Maeda's equaliser came from a quick ball in behind, and Ipswich kept pushing until the end. Christian Walton made an early save from Ruben Dias, and the visitors forced a late penalty with the score at 3-1.
The title race
Arsenal play Nottingham Forest later this weekend. A win would take Mikel Arteta's side to 18 points, three behind City. That keeps Arsenal as the closest challengers to Maresca's team after seven rounds.
Key takeaways
- Man City beat Ipswich 3-2 for a seventh straight Premier League win.
- Haaland scored twice and Foden scored once. Maeda and a late Flemming penalty replied for Ipswich.
- City say Maresca is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games in charge of a club.
- Kovacic, Nunes, Semenyo and Haaland all picked up knocks before Tuesday's game against AEK Athens.
FAQ
What was the score in Man City vs Ipswich? Manchester City won 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium on 17 October 2026. Foden and Haaland (two) scored for City. Maeda and Flemming (penalty) scored for Ipswich.
What record did Enzo Maresca set? Manchester City say he is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League matches in charge of a club. City have won all seven league games this season.
When do Man City play next? City host AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday, 20 October, at 8pm UK time. That is 3am on Wednesday, 21 October in Malaysia.
Sources: Manchester City FC, Yahoo Sports, Associated Press, Football Web Pages