Manchester City were the losing side on Saturday despite taking the lead as they were defeated 3-2 by a defiant AC Milan side in an entertaining pre-season match played in front of a sellout crowd at the Yankee Stadium in New York.
It looked like it was going to be a typical City showing after Erling Haaland opened the scoring in front of the 46,122 fans were in attendance with a low finish after an assist by Oscar Bobb in the 19th minute. However, AC Milan took the day with an encouraging win.
City welcomed back goalkeeper, Ederson, from injury and he was called into action as he got down to save Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s low effort across goal early on. AC Milan continued to threaten with Samuel Chukwueze firing wide from a promising position.
It was the citizens who then took the initiative as James McAtee regained possession, released Oscar Bobb, who did well to get past Fikayo Tomori before cutting the ball into the path of Haaland in the box who wasted no time with the finish.
First goal in our new @pumafootball third kit! đź‘Ś
James McAtee nets the leveller against AC Milan. Watch on CITY+ ⤵️
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 27, 2024
Haaland had the opportunity to double City’s lead but he fired over after more excellent work from Bobb.
Milan took the cue and quickly drew level against the run of play, as Chukwueze’s clever ball into the far post was headed home by Colombo. The Italians were not done just yet as once again, Chukwueze and Colombo combined with the latter firing home a second time at the far post to hand Paulo Foncesca’s side the lead.
City immediately pressed for a route back into the game, with Haaland forcing a save from Lorzeno Torriani with city being behind at the break.
Both sides emerged for the second half in brand new kits as part of the City and Milan for Change initiative and the change seemed to affect the players as James McAtee headed home on 55 minutes to draw City level in the game, after great work from substitute Micah Hamilton. The winger raced to the by-line and floated a teasing cross into the back post for the midfielder, whose run into the box had gone unchecked, allowing him to head home the equaliser.
City were beginning to take control, but Nasti needed no invitation when presented with another sight of goal, confidently sweeping home a first-time effort from Saelemaekers’ cross despite Ederson getting a glove to it, condemning City to a 3-2 defeat
