Erling Haaland nets five as Manchester City breeze past Luton into FA Cup quarters

The FA Cup holders barged their way into the last eight of the competition thanks to five goals from their giant Norwegian before turning their attention to Sunday's Manchester derby.

HIGH FIVE: Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring his fifth goal. Photo credit: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Luton 2 Manchester City 6

Erling Haaland scored five and Kevin De Bruyne provided four assists as Manchester City reminded the rest of the footballing world that a repeat of last season's majestic trophy Treble is very much a possibility.

The FA Cup holders barged their way into the last eight of the competition thanks to their giant Norwegian before turning their attention to Sunday's Manchester derby.

Luton's hopes of an upset bloomed either side of half-time, when two Jordan Clark goals suddenly turned 3-0 into 3-2, but Haaland is a difficult man to deny.

Progression did not come without a cost though as Jack Grealish, scorer of the winner in the league meeting here in December, was forced off injured before half-time.

Luton had given the champions a hard time in that 2-1 loss before Christmas but fell behind from City's first attack, in the third minute.

Manuel Akanji began the move with a run out of defence on the left that Matheus Nunes continued. De Bruyne was played into space on the left of the box and his pull-back was despatched mercilessly by Haaland from seven yards.

Luton are used to dealing with setbacks however, no least the loss of skipper Tom Lockyer to the heart trouble that may yet claim his career but not, thankfully, his life, and Ake soon had to prevent Carlton Morris from netting an instant equaliser.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland scores his fifth goal.

Hatters fans were angry with referee Anthony Taylor for penalising Teden Mengi for hauling Haaland down when a similar tussle between Nathan Ake and Morris had been allowed.

Within seconds Haaland had the ball in the net again, once more from a De Bruyne pass. This time he shrugged off Mengi with ease before blasting past goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Krul delayed the Norseman his hat-trick after John Stones had played him in - and again on the rebound after De Bruyne had burst through.

Cauley Woodrow curled a rare Luton reply marginally wide of the far post but the locals had gone quiet as both sides made changes seven minutes before the break. Grealish was unable to continue and was replaced by Jeremy Doku and it was a similar story for Luton defender Amari'i Bell, with youngster Joe Johnson coming on.

Johnson, a teenager with a handful of appearances to his name, was given an instant rude awakening when he played Haaland onside from yet another De Bruyne throughball. This time Haaland chose a dainty dink over Krul to claim the match ball.

Clark fired home an instant Hatters reply in first-half stoppage-time following a little ball juggling from Ross Barkley. The midfielder switched to his right foot and powered a perfect curler into the top corner from outside the box.

John Stones, forever stepping into midfield, sent Nunes away early in the second period but again Krul, the reserve goalkeeper, made a good save.

It was to prove crucial as Clark made it 3-2 by cashing in on a mistake from City's second-string goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega.

Ortega sent a clearance straight to Barkley, who slid in Clark for an emphatic finish.

Home elation was short-lived however as De Bruyne burst clear on the right of the Luton box and squared for Haaland to tap in his fourth of the night.

Worse was to come for those of an orange and black persuasion as Haaland hammered home his fifth before an hour had even been played. The provider? Bernardo Silva this time.

Ortega made amends with saves to deny Barkley and Carlton Morris as Luton decided they may as well carry on attacking. The corner almost found itself into the City net as well but Ortega grabbed a deflection off Chong just in time.

There was still time for another goal and this time neither Haaland or De Bruyne were involved, with Stones setting Kovacic up for a clean hit beyond Krul.

The final whistle was a relief to Luton - and superstitious City fans of a certain age. Denis Law had scored all six to make it 6-2 in an FA Cup game in 1961 that was abandoned - and Luton won the rematch!.

Luton (3-4-2-1): Krul 7; Mengi 6, Burke 6, Bell 5 (Johnson 39, 4); Ogbene 5 (Hashioka 62, 3), Barkley 7, Clark 8 (Mpanzu 62, 4), Doughty 7; Chong 6, Morris 6; Woodrow 6 (Townsend 56, 3).

Subs not used: Shea, Osho, Berry, Mpanzu, Hashioka, Townsend, Nelson, Piesold.

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Ortega 6; Walker 7, Stones 8 (Bobb 77, 3), Akanji 7, Ake 7 (Gomez 77, 3); Kovacic 7; Nunes 6, De Bruyne 9, Silva 7 (Lewis 77, 3), Grealish 6 (Doku 38, 6); Haaland 9 (Alvarez 77, 3).

Subs not used: Ederson, Dias, Rodri, Alvarez, Gomez, Foden, Bobb, Lewis.

Referee: Anthony Taylor 6.