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Manchester City logo
Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 27, 2014 at 9pm UK
 
Milan logo

5-1

Jovetic (12', 58'), Sinclair (14'), Navas (23'), Iheanacho (26')
FT(HT: 4-1)
Muntari (42')

Live Commentary: Manchester City 5-1 AC Milan - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live coverage of the friendly between Manchester City and AC Milan.
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Manchester City have got their International Champions Cup campaign off to a winning start after an emphatic performance against AC Milan.

The Premier League champions netted four times in the space of 14 first-half minutes as Stevan Jovetic, Scott Sinclair, Jesus Navas and Kelechi Iheanacho all got on the score sheet.

Milan pulled a goal back through Sulley Muntari, but City capped their 5-1 win when Jovetic scored his second goal in the early stages of the second half.

Read below to see how the action unfolded in Pittsburgh.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the friendly between Manchester City and AC Milan.

We are just three weeks away from the start of the new season and the friendlies are certainly starting to hot up! We saw the likes of Manchester United, Roma, Inter Milan and Real Madrid in action last night, and tonight it is the turn of Manchester City and AC Milan. With the expected appearance of Mario Balotelli in the second half, it should be an entertaining couple of hours!

Given that we are just over 20 minutes away from kickoff in Pittsburgh, I guess that I should probably bring you news of the two teams.

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Clichy, Kolarov, Boyata, Nastasic, Fernando, Navas, Zuculini, Sinclair, Jovetic, Iheanacho

AC MILAN XI: Agazzi; De Sciglio, Rami, Constant, Alex; Muntari, Poli, Cristante; Honda, Niang, El Shaarawy

As with most friendlies, both lineups are a mixture of youth and experience, and that trend will probably continue throughout the tournament. As I have already alluded to, Mario Balotelli, who left Manchester City for AC Milan in January 2013, is among the Italian's side substitutes' bench.

While we are on the subject of the controversial striker, here is a picture of him arrivng at Heinz Field around an hour ago.



Going by this description, I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of drinks break throughout the 90 minutes.



After the conclusion of this match, we have a match between Liverpool and Olympiacos, who are the other two teams competing in this group of the International Champions Cup. Olympiacos have already defeated AC Milan 3-0 so Liverpool could find it tricky against the Greeks.

Before we get underway, I will bring you a bit more info on the couple of Manchester City players that you are perhaps not familiar with. Bruno Zuculini is a 21-year-old Argentinian midfielder who managed to get on the score sheet against Sporting Kansas City earlier this week. As for Kelechi Iheanacho, he made a big impact against Sporting Kansas and manager Manuel Pellegrini is eager to tie the Nigerian down to a long-term deal if a work permit can be sorted for the 17-year-old playmaker.

The two teams have made it onto the pitch in Pittsburgh. We will be underway shortly. Aleksandar Kolarov will skipper Manchester City this evening in the absence of Vincent Kompany.

Manchester City get us underway.

Manchester City lose possession in midfield and that allows AC Milan to break forward through Stephan El Shaarawy. The winger advanced into the penalty area but his attempted pull-back was deflected for a corner.

From the resulting corner, Alex, the former Chelsea defender who has been signed from Paris Saint-Germain, headed wide at the back post, but he was always struggling to make contact with the ball.

Kelechi Iheanacho has blazed a 20-yard effort high into the stands, but apart from that, it's been a slow start from the Premier League champions, which is a bit of a surprise given that they are likely to be two weeks ahead of Milan in their pre-season schedule.

After a sustained spell of possession, the ball was played to Kevin Constant on the left-hand side, but despite his cross threatening to find M'Baye Niang, the ball was well defended by Manchester City.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 AC Milan (Jovetic)

They may have been second best during the opening stages but Manchester City take the lead through Stevan Jovetic. Jesus Navas played the ball in behind the AC Milan and the Montenegrin forward fired the ball past Michael Agazzi from 12 yards.

GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 AC Milan (Sinclair)

Scott Sinclair - remember him, Manchester City fans? If you didn't before, you do now, because he's just given your side a 2-0 advantage over AC Milan inside the opening 15 minutes. Gael Clichy, who is operating in an unfamiliar role of right-back, crossed the ball into the winger, who controlled it well before striking the ball into the top corner from eight yards.

So much for me saying that AC Milan had started this match well...! It's all Manchester City now, and they are threatening a third. Milan will be hoping it's not going to be a similar story as 12 months ago. They were 5-0 down after 35 minutes around this time last year!

OUCH! Gael Clichy has just gone completely though Stephan El Shaarawy. I think the Frenchman may have forgotten this is a friendly...

GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 AC Milan (Navas)

It looks like we might be seeing a repeat of 12 months ago! City go 3-0 ahead in rather fortuitous circumstances. The ball was fizzed cross-field for Jesus Navas on the left flank, but rather than control the ball, the Spaniard tried the most audacious of volleys from the side of the penalty area that took a huge deflection to deceive Michael Agazzi.

GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 AC Milan (Iheanacho)

Well this is getting a little ridiculous now. AC Milan are all over the place in defence, but it must be said, they aren't being helped out by their goalkeeper. The ball was played into the area for Kelechi Iheanacho, who bided his time before toe-poking the ball towards goal from 12 yards that Michael Agazzi parried into the top corner. He has the number one shirt at the San Siro...

AC Milan come close to getting a goal back through Alex, but he couldn't convert at the back post. The Italian side have looked dangerous from set pieces, but aside from that, they have been atrocious during the last 20 minutes.

CHANCE! That's the best that we have seen from AC Milan in open play. Andrea Poli crossed the ball from the right flank for Stephan El Shaarawy to head on goal from six yards, but goalkeeper Willy Caballero pulled off a super stop.

Both teams appear content to play the ball about in midfield for the time being. Maybe the conditions are beginning to take effect, although the rain is coming down hard in Pittsburgh. There is thunder in the area too. Could we be seeing a suspension in play at some point?

Jesus Navas has argubaly been City's best player during the evening, and he shows his silky skills once again in gliding past his marker on the right flank. However, his ball into the area goes straight across the box.

Now then, the word coming from pitchside is that because of the deterioring and potentially dangerous conditions, we could be playing just one half of football. When has that ever happened before?! Looks like it is going to happen here though. It's raining cats, dogs and whatever else.

GOAL! Manchester City 4-1 AC Milan (Muntari)

AC Milan have pulled a goal back in Pittsburgh, but it's not likely to have any bearing on the result. A corner was headed back across goal by Alex for Sulley Muntari to tap home from a yard.

HALF TIME: Manchester City 4-1 AC Milan

The half-time, potentially full-time, whistle has gone at Heinz Field and Manchester City hold a 4-1 advantage over AC Milan. After overcoming a slow start, they have dominated the remainder of the first half, with AC Milan only offering a threat from set pieces.

I will obviously keep you updated with developments regarding the possible conclusion of this match, but for now, let's act as if we are going to get some more play. The biggest plus points from the opening 45 minutes have been the performances of Jesus Navas and Stevan Jovetic. Both men face a fight to hold down a starting role next season, but they have taken a step to impressing their manager with displays full of pace and creativity in the final third. The duo combined for the opener, and from then onwards, Milan have struggled to cope with their sharpness.

If this game doesn't continue after half time, we would have missed out on Mario Balotelli playing against his former club. Come on thunder and lightning, hold off for another hour...

BREAKING NEWS! The match has been suspended due to severe weather conditions. A decision will be made in 20 minutes time as to whether we will continue.

I don't know what it is about me and pre-season friendlies, but this happened when I covered Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland in the Asia Cup last year, so I take full responsibility for the delay.

Manchester City's Twitter page says people are "running for cover" due to the conditions. Sounds promising...

While we wait, you may as well take a look at the breaking news that has emerged over the past few minutes. Liverpool have made yet another big-money signing - this time, it's Southampton defender Dejan Lovren who has made the move to Anfield.

The word is that the game could restart in around five minutes time. That's good news for all concerned.

The two teams have started to make their way out onto the pitch - it will be interesting to see how that plays during his second half. It sounds as though this half will be restricted to 30 minutes.

Before we get back underway, both Manchester City and AC Milan will undergo a light warmup after the prolonged interval. Mario Balotelli is stripped and ready to make an appearance in the second half, as is Michael Essien.

AC Milan get the match restarted in front of a growing crowd in Pittsburgh.

The Italian outfit have started brightly, with Mario Balotelli enjoying a few neat touches in and around the penalty area. Nothing materialises, though, and Manchester City are back in possession at the other end of the pitch.

CHANCE! AC Milan win a corner on the right-hand side and the cross into the box finds Michael Essien in acres of space. However, the former Chelsea man opts to head towards goal from 12 yards rather than control the ball and Willy Caballero makes the easy save.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Mario Balotelli sees a goal rightly chalked off after he moved into an offside position to convert a weak effort from M'Baye Niang.

GOAL! Manchester City 5-1 AC Milan (Jovetic)

Manchester City regain their four-goal advantage and it's a second goal for Stevan Jovetic. Aleksandar Kolarov pulled the ball back for the attacker, who dinked the ball over the defender's trailing foot before applying a confident finish from eight yards.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Manchester City make their first alternations of the evening, bringing on Javi Garcia and Emyr Huws for Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho. I should add that we may be playing the full 45 minutes in this second half. No official confirmation has followed since talk of the reduction at the break.

You don't see that every day. A supporter has refused to return the ball unless he can have a picture taken with one of the players. The player in question refused, and security have retrieved the ball, which is followed by a chorus of boos from the crowd. It's all good fun...

Back to the game, and there's not a whole lot going on, apart from plenty of substitutions. I'm sure that will continue over the next 10 or 15 minutes.

While we are having a mid-half lull, I shall point you in the direction of our coverage of Liverpool's game with Olympiacos, which will be getting underway in Chicago in five minutes.

CHANCE! M'Baye Niang gives a display of his pace to progress into the penalty area but after he got to within shooting distance, his tame effort was blocked by Dedryck Boyata, who seems to have injured himself in the process.

SHOT! A corner is whipped to the back post for Philippe Mexes to head into the direction of Mario Balotelli, but the former City striker blazes his volley high into the stands. It's been one of those nights...

CHANCE! To be fair to AC Milan, despite the scoreline, they are showing plenty of ambition to make the score look a little more respectable before full time. Ignazio Abate delivered the ball in from the right-hand side for Riccardo Saponara, but the Italian midfielder could only head over the crossbar from 12 yards.

That's very unlucky. Mario Balotelli flicked the ball through to M'Baye Niang, but after the striker attempted to play another one-two with his teammate, the return ball was over-hit. Nice idea though.

This is turning into a passing exercise for Manchester City. They are showing no ambition to extend their lead and it's simply a case of ensuring that Milan don't nick a second. However, the Italian team have a free kick on the right flank.

It's a wonderful ball into the penalty area from Bryan Cristante but his cross evades everyone who is waiting on the edge of the six-yard box and the ball goes out for a throw in.

Mario Balotelli is probably thinking "why always me?". Two AC Milan supporters have just ran the length of the pitch to get a selfie with the controversial forward, who obliges to their request. However, they are quickly overpowered by security and marched out of the ground.

FULL TIME: Manchester City 5-1 AC Milan

The referee brings a halt to the match in Pittsburgh, and Manchester City have cantered to a 5-1 success over AC Milan. The Italian side improved during the second half, but their poor first-half display did the damage and the Premier League champions were well worth their win.

That will be all for our coverage of this match, but please consider sticking around - coverage of Liverpool's match with Olympiacos can be found by clicking here. Goodbye for now.

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Vincent Kompany of Manchester City lifts the Premier League trophy at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on May 11, 2014
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