Jovetic shines as Manchester City put five past Milan
ByFootballItalia
Updated 28/07/2014 at 07:50 GMT
Pre-season friendly, Heinz Field - AC Milan 1 (Muntari 42') Man City 5 (Jovetic 11' 58' Sinclair 13' Navas 23' Iheanacho 26')
Jul 27, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic (35) celebrates after a goal during the second half of a friendly against AC Milan at Heinz Field. Manchester City won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports
Image credit: Eurosport
Milan were humiliated 5-1 by Manchester City, as Pippo Inzaghi suffered another heavy American defeat.
The Guinness International Champions Cup continued in Pittsburgh, as Inzaghi hoped for better after a 3-0 mauling by Olympiacos. Mario Balotelli faced his former club, but started from the bench with Sulley Muntari wearing the captain’s armband.
Stephan El Shaarawy and M’Baye Niang created dangerous situations, but Stevan Jovetic blasted Manchester City into the lead at the near post on a Jesus Navas through ball.
Within 120 seconds it was 2-0, as again Milan were cut open down the right by Gael Clichy, Adil Rami allowed Scott Sinclair to turn and fire under the bar from 10 yards.
Milan, who are two weeks behind in pre-season training, wasted a promising move when El Shaarawy couldn’t get on the end of a Mattia De Sciglio assist.
Navas gave City a third with the aid of good fortune, as his volley from the edge of the box took a huge deflection off Andrea Poli to wrong-foot Michael Agazzi at the near post.
As they did against Olympiacos, Milan folded in the American heat. Agazzi should have done better, getting a hand to the Kelechi Ihenacho toe-poke, but unable to keep it out.
Alex tried a diving header on a set play, but didn’t make contact with the ball, though El Shaarawy did on De Sciglio’s cross and forced a save.
Captain Muntari pulled one back before the break. Alex knocked down a corner for the Ghanaian to bundle in at the back post. Inzaghi hired a set-piece specialist this summer and it seemed to pay off in that instance.
There was a 20-minute delay for the second half due to a thunderstorm in Philadelphia, forcing fans and players to flee.
Balotelli came off the bench and had the ball in the net, but was correctly flagged offside on the tap-in.
Instead, City got their fifth and Jovetic’s second, as he showed quick feet to ride a Rami tackle and turn in from six yards.
Niang intercepted a pass to go on the counter, but lost his cool one-on-one with Willy Caballero and prodded the finish straight at the goalkeeper. Philippe Mexes saw his volley charged down and Riccardo Saponara nodded over from an Ignazio Abate cross.
There was time for a brief run-out from 16-year-old talent Hachim Mastour, but overall another embarrassing US outing for the Rossoneri.
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