Erling Haaland finally finds his way past Diogo Costa on Champions League opening night

PORTO, Portugal (AP) — Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa kept on denying Erling Haaland in the first half.

Two minutes after the break, though, Haaland headed in off the post for his 58th goal in 59 Champions League matches. Then he added another in stoppage time to seal Manchester City's 2-0 win Tuesday and raise his total to 59 in 59 matches.

For his first, Haaland met a cross from new teammate Enzo Fernandez to convert from close range.

For his second, he used one touch of his right foot to redirect in a pass from Rayan Ait-Nouri.

With 36 Champions League goals for City, Haaland matched Sergio Aguero for the City record; and Porto became the 22nd different team that Haaland has scored against in the competition.

Haaland scored eight goals in 10 matches during last season’s Champions League, when City was eliminated by Real Madrid in the round of 16. Playing with a new haircut, he has three in three Premier League matches this season.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Porto's Jakub Kiwior, center right, jumps for the ball in front of Manchester City's Erling Haaland, center, during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts as Referee Szymon Marciniak shows him a yellow card during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Erling Haaland, right, celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after scoring the opening goal during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after a missed chance to score, next to Porto's Nehuen Perez, left, during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland attempts a header at goal above Porto's Jakub Kiwior during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland attempts a header at goal above Porto's Jakub Kiwior during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

MIAMI (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo has never had a better offensive start to a season. He's also never had a worse overall start to a season.

That's how badly things are going on the defensive end for the Miami Heat right now.

Antetokounmpo scored 36 points on Friday night, giving him 71 through the first two games — matching the most he's ever scored in the first two games of any season. That's the good news.

Here's the bad news: Miami is 0-2, after giving up a franchise-worst 259 points in the first two games. It's also the first time that Antetokounmpo has appeared in the first two games of a season and his team hasn't gotten a win. (Milwaukee started 0-2 in 2015-16, the lone such start of his era there, but he appeared in only one of those two games.)

“We wanted it to go well, not only for him, but for us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He really cares. He wants this to work. His teammates really want this to work. We’re going to get there. It’s just not on our timeline right now, not exactly how we wanted to start the season.”

No player in Heat history has gotten off to a faster two-game offensive start than Antetokounmpo; LeBron James scored 63 points in the first two games of the 2011-12 season, when Miami went on to win the NBA title.

Antetokounmpo said he didn't expect it to be easy, especially with two good teams — Minnesota and Detroit — as Miami's first two opponents.

“Sometimes when things don’t go your way you get discouraged, your defense is not as good," Antetokounmpo said. “But at the end of the day, I feel like once we are locked in and we trust one another in all levels, offense becomes easier, defense becomes easier. And right now, it’s not where it should be, but we’ve got to keep on taking good things from the game.”

Antetokounmpo said sometimes teams need a shock — “we were definitely shocked,” he said — and that can raise the level of urgency.

And Spoelstra, as always, insists that the Heat won't run from adversity. He said training camp and preseason were good starts to the team-building process, but that tough times like these are what truly bring a team together.

“Here we are,” Spoelstra said. “We’re getting to know each other right at the beginning of the season.”

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) dunks over Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) and forward John Collins (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) scores past Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) pushes past Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)