FA Cup: Haaland the talk of Luton Town, scores 5 in 6-2 rout

Manchester, February 28

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Erling Haaland looks determined to make up for lost time. The Norway striker scored five goals to power Manchester City into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup in a 6-2 win against Luton on Tuesday.

It was his eighth hat-trick in a season-and-a-half with City and the second time he has scored five in a single game for the club.

Perhaps more significantly, it was evidence that Haaland is fully back up to speed after recently returning from a foot injury that ruled him out for more than a month between December and January.

“My fitness is getting back to its best finally,” he said. “I feel good. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Haaland had scored only three goals in seven appearances since making his comeback on January 31.

Newcastle avoided a potential upset at Blackburn Rovers but needed penalties to overcome the second-division team. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka pushed away Dominic Hyam’s spot-kick at the end of the shootout to secure a 4-3 win on penalties after the game had ended 1-1 through extra time. — AP