City 3-0 Spurs - report from Nashville

Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners in the final International Champions Cup match of our tour of the USA in Nashville, Tennessee.

It would be hard to argue that City didn't deserve to win in front of 56,232 fans at the Nissan Stadium - a record for a soccer match in Tennessee - although it might have been different if Dele Alli and Harry Kane had converted chances at the start and end of the first half on Saturday night. Christian Eriksen also forced a fine save from Ederson.

City went 1-0 up in-between those chances through John Stones (10 minutes), Gabriel Jesus missed a golden chance for 2-0 and Sergio Aguero struck the woodwork twice before goals from Raheem Sterling (73) and Brahim Diaz (90+1) wrapped it up. Vincent Janssen was also denied by Ederson and then Arijanet Muric.

On the positive side, Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Eriksen and Kane all completed 90 minutes.

Action summary

We started well and had a great chance two minutes in when an excellent curling delivery from the right flank by Kieran Trippier dropped dangerously on the far side for the arriving Dele, but City goalkeeper Ederson was out quickly to deny him.

City took the lead on 10 minutes from a set piece as Mousa Dembele was penalised for a challenge 30 yards out, Kevin De Bruyne floated the ball in and Stones' diving header sailed past Hugo Lloris.

 
Above: Harry Winks up against Raheem Sterling.

City had the better chances for the remainder of the half as Lloris was kept busy, denying Jesus and Danilo before Eriksen brought a flying save out of his opposite number with a free-kick with almost half-an-hour gone.

There was no let-up for Lloris, though, as he rushed out to deny former team-mate Kyle Walker, before saving further attempts from Jesus and Danilo as half-time approached. Kane almost grabbed a leveller just before the break but lifted his effort over the bar as well as over Ederson, while Jesus was left kicking himself after blazing off target from six yards with the goal gaping in stoppage time.

De Bruyne drilled wide while Eriksen sent a free-kick into the wall in the opening exchanges of the second period while the lively Aguero forced a save from half-time substitute Michel Vorm before hitting the woodwork twice in three minutes mid-way through the half.

Sterling went clean through to make it 2-0 on 73 minutes and after City's young goalkeeper Muric denied both Eriksen and Janssen, Diaz rammed home after a sustained period of attack from City in the first minute of stoppage time.

Mauricio Pochettino said

"It’s the same message after PSG and Roma. It’s tough to lose, always, but the priority is not about the result, it’s about getting fit and playing. We are working to try to get fit and the objective is to start in the best condition at Newcastle. It’s true they were better and deserved to win, but today it’s about work."

Match data

Manchester City: Ederson (Muric 82), Walker (Tosin 74), Kompany (c, Mangala 60), Stones (Duhaney 74), Otamendi, Danilo (Sane 74), Fernandinho (Toure 60), Silva (Nasri 60), De Bruyne (Foden 60), Sterling (Diaz 78), G Jesus (Aguero 60).

Spurs: Lloris (c, Vorm 46), Trippier (Walker-Peters 79), Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen (Wimmer 71), Davies, Dembele (Nkoudou 55), Winks (Oakley-Boothe 71), Eriksen, Dele (Janssen 71), Kane.

Goals: Manchester City - Stones 10, Sterling 73, Diaz 91.

Yellow cards: Manchester City - Kompany 55.

Referee: Fotis Bazakos.

Attendance: 56,232.