West Ham 0-2 Man City: Haaland double as City reject Hammers

Erling Haaland opened his Manchester City account with two goals as the champions beat West Ham 2-0 at the London Stadium.

The £51million summer signing from Borussia Dortmund marked what is likely to be the first in a long line to kick off his and City's season.

It may not have been as explosive a start as some of his previous ones - Haaland netted a hat-trick on his Champions League arc for Red Bull Salzburg and another hat-trick on his Bundesliga debut for Dortmund.

But a first-half penalty and a fine second-half finish meant it was a hugely satisfying afternoon's work for Pep Guardiola's new poster boy as well as the player's father, Alfie, the former City midfielder watching from the stands.

West Ham, however, looked there for the take. Despite a rebuilding summer, they managed to start the season with only one fit centre-half.

Within half an hour, they had lost goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to injury and it was his replacement, Alphonse Areola, who quickly awarded the penalty.

However, in a brilliant start from the hosts, Jarrod Bowen blocked a shot from close range before Michail Antonio narrowly headed Aaron Cresswell's cross.

However, City grew in the game and Haaland's big moment should have come in the 20th minute when Phil Foden floated over an inviting cross.

But the 22-year-old didn't meet the ball with conviction and instead glanced wide at a weak header.

Moments later, City had the ball in the net after Haaland fired it past Ilkay Gundogan, but the midfielder was stopped for offside as he faced Kevin De Bruyne for that he retreats.

After Fabianski suffered an injury attempting a cross, Areola, who joined the Hammers on a permanent basis this summer after a successful loan spell last year, was prematurely thrown into action.

But Areola's first involvement was disastrous for the hosts as the Frenchman brought down Haaland as he chased Gundogan's through ball.

There was only one player who was going to take the penalty, and he deftly sent Areola the wrong way with a low kick that clipped a post in his path.

West Ham could have equalized shortly after half-time but Declan Rice, now permanent club captain following the retirement of Mark Noble, lifted his shot over the crossbar.

Just before the hour mark, manager David Moyes presented his star summer signing, £30million Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca, for an ailing Antonio.

But it was another substitute, Said Benrahma, who forced Ederson's first notable save with a low drive.

However, Haaland put the game beyond the hosts with 25 minutes remaining, rushing De Bruyne's through ball and slotting it past Areola.

The Norwegian could have scored his last debut with another hat-trick, but he had to settle for two after heading a Jack Grealish cross over the bar.