Manchester City had a dominant opening display in Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre where they came from behind to thrash West Ham United 4-1.
The Citizens started the match on a high note by piling pressure on West Ham and a Harwood-Bellis header in the 2nd-minute was saved by their opponents’ goalkeeper Roberto Jiménez Gago.
City went ahead with controlling possession as Bernabe looks to play in Luke Nmecha but the West Ham defender did well to thwart the opportunity before it could develop.
West Ham’s patience almost rewarded them in the 19th-minute when Manuel Lanzini had his shot saved by Man City keeper Bravo. West Ham look dangerous on the counter here.
West Ham were then awarded a penalty in the 24th-minute after Angeliño appeared to have handled the ball in the box. Mark Noble converted the penalty to give West Ham the lead.
David Silva then leveled the score for Man City after pushing in a fantastic pass from Bernabe in the 33rd-minute before Nmecha added the second goal in the 35th-minute through a penalty.
The game really started to heat up a few minutes to the end of the first half as West Ham United’s effort to equalize was thwarted yet again by Bravo.
As the second half began, the Citizens made four major changes; Sterling, Bernardo, De Bruyne and Sane came in for Nmecha, Poveda, Bernabe and Silva.
In the 59th-minute, Lorey Sane slipped in the ball to Raheem Sterlling who took his time before cooly slotting the ball past the West Ham keeper to make the score 3-1.
Sterling doubles his tally as Kevin De Bruyne unselfishly squared the ball to him in the box! It was such a great team play to maintain the attack!
Man City who seemed not be finished, direly looked for another goal when Silva’s shot was deflected out for a corner. West Ham managed to defend the four goals until the last minute.
Pep Guardiola will move with his team to Shanghai where they will contest the final or third place play-off against either Newcastle United or Wolves at the Hongkou Stadium.