Enzo Maresca claimed his first victory as Manchester City manager after his side beat K-League All Stars in a pre-season friendly which ended 3-1.
The Premier League club claimed a convincing victory in their pre-season tour of South Korea, giving their new manager a taste of victory for the first time since taking over from Pep Guardiola.
City started the game with confidence and controlled possession from the opening whistle. Their quick passing and movement caused problems for the K-League All Stars, who found it difficult to keep up with the visitors during the first half.
The Premier League side created several early chances before finally taking the lead through Aït-Nouri in the 9th minute of play which made sure it became 1-0.
The wing-back finished a well-worked attacking move to give Manchester City a deserved advantage after a dominant opening spell which they did not hold back on anything.
Despite falling behind, the K-League All Stars did not give up. They kept on pressing back and managed to pull a goal back, giving the home supporters something to celebrate in the 12th minute.
Their goal from Kim, briefly raised hopes of a comeback, but the Premier League side remained calm and continued to control the match with patient passing and disciplined defending.
The pressure continued as City restored their lead not long after. Tijjani Reijnders scored a beauty which made things 2-1 in the 20th minute of the encounter.
Reijnders reacted quickly to finish from close range, making it 2-1 and rewarding City’s attacking display. The match was still all about the Premier League side dominating more of possession and play.
More action was witnessed in the match which became 3-1 in the 23rd minute after Mubama increased the scoreline with more left to be played between both teams.
Manchester City were already done 3-1 against K-League All Stars before they headed for the break. As expected in a pre-season friendly, Maresca made several substitutions during the second half to give more players valuable minutes.
The changes did not affect City’s rhythm as the team continued to create chances against the tiring hosts. Young talents and fringe players took the opportunity to impress, while experienced members of the squad helped maintain control in midfield.
Despite everything that happened, the game scoreline did not change until the end which saw Manchester City claimed a 3-1 victory against K-League All Stars.
Enzo Maresca will take the result as a fresh start after their first preseason game which ended with a penalty defeat despite his side giving all their best.
The team looked sharper than in their previous outing, moved the ball well, and created numerous scoring opportunities.
New signings settled into the system quickly, while younger players also made positive contributions when introduced from the bench.
For the K-League All Stars, the match provided a chance to compete against one of Europe’s strongest clubs.
They showed determination throughout the contest and managed to score against City, but the difference in quality and depth between the two teams was clear over the full 90 minutes.
Manchester City will carry on turning attention to the next match of their Asia tour as preparations continue for the new campaign.
The comfortable win over the K-League All Stars gives Maresca plenty of positives to build on, with improved performances, growing confidence, and valuable match fitness all achieved in an entertaining evening in Seoul.