Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City lost their International Champions Cup opening game thanks to a Mario Gotze 28th Minute penalty. Of course, all the necessary preseason caveats must be applied. Managers and players are more concerned with getting themselves match ready for the first competitive game of the season than the final result. After all, there's no point in peaking too early when there's a nine month haul ahead.
Admittedly, both sides missed a number of first team players who are still in holiday following their World Cup exertions. The Citizens had 16 players in Russia and had to make do with youngsters at the Soldier Field Stadium. Riyad Mahrez made his Manchester City debut and went close to equalizing just before half time with a perfectly struck free kick but was denied by an amazing reflex from Marwin Hitz.
Pulisic was Dortmund’s constant attacking threat in the first 45 minutes as the American ran circles around City’s left back of the day Olek Zinchenko. The Premier League winners started the match brilliantly and looked domineering in terms of possession. Pressing higher, Dortmund then grew stronger and registered the game’s first shot on target from an excellent Pulisic cross as the crowd roared.
Zinchenko conceded a penalty in the 27th minute and Mario Gotze stepped up to score against Claudio Bravo from six yards out. Again, Pulisic was the man who earned the penalty for his Dortmund, helping the Bundesliga side take the lead inside half an hour. Isak had a chance to double the lead, but his shot went into the side-netting.
Both sides made a number of changes at halftime with Joe Hart taking up the goalkeeper’s role from Claudio Bravo. The England international played his first game for Manchester City in nearly two years. BVB manager Lucien Favre changed the whole team except the keeper at the start of the second half. Manchester City were ultimately unable to break down Dortmund registering only three shots on target despite enjoying 54% ball possession. Pulisic stole the show in the first half his work was sufficient to help his team win the game and earning him Man of the Match award.
More Match Stats can be obtained from Sky Sports.
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