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.
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 Alex 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 wrongfoot Michael Agazzi at the near post.
As they did against Olympiacos, Milan folded in the American heat. Agazzi should’ve 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.
Milan 1-5 Man City
Scorers: Jovetic 12, 57 (MC), Sinclair 14 (MC), Navas 23 (MC), Iheanacho 26 (MC), Muntari 42 (M)
Milan: Agazzi; De Sciglio (Albertazzi 68), Alex (Bonera 46), Rami (Mexes 68), Constant (Abate 46); Poli (Essien 46), Cristante, Muntari (Saponara 68); Honda (Pinato 85), Niang (Mastour 85), El Shaarawy (Balotelli 46)
Manchester City: Caballero; Clichy, Nastasic, Boyata (Rekik 77), Kolarov (Richards 69); Sinclair, Fernando (Javi Garcia 62), Zuculini (Leigh 77), Navas (Rodwell 77); Jovetic (Guidetti 69), Iheanacho (Huws 62)