Manchester City Overcomes Atletico Madrid with Second-Half Surge in Seoul Friendly
Omar Marmoush netted two goals within a three-minute span in the second half, leading Manchester City to a comeback victory over Atletico Madrid in a friendly match held in Seoul, South Korea.
Atletico Madrid took the initial lead just before half-time. City failed to adequately clear a corner taken by Koke, allowing Morten Hjulmand to assist 16-year-old Jorge Dominguez, who successfully scored past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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City leveled the match in the 57th minute. Antoine Semenyo showcased his skills by keeping the ball in play before advancing into the penalty area along the left side, where he delivered a low cross that Marmoush converted into a goal.
Just two minutes later, the duo struck again with a similar play, as Marmoush scored again from another low cross by Semenyo.
A crowd exceeding 50,000 filled the Seoul World Cup Stadium, and the loudest cheers came with the second-half entry of Atletico’s South Korean international, Lee Kang-in.
Lee had an opportunity to equalize when he found himself unmarked near the penalty spot but unfortunately sent his first-time shot just wide of the target.
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Rayan Ait-Nouri capped the 3-1 win for City by scoring their third goal in injury time, running onto Divin Mubama’s through ball and powering a shot into the bottom corner.
This friendly marked City’s third and final match in Asia during their pre-season tour. Previously, they lost 3-1 on penalties to Inter Milan after a 1-1 draw in Hong Kong on August 1, and earlier beat a K League All-Stars team 3-1 in Seoul on Wednesday.
Looking ahead, City, who triumphantly defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final back in May, will next play on Sunday, August 16, against reigning Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
This match will be crucial for Enzo Maresca to allow game time for players who participated in the later stages of the World Cup, including Erling Haaland, Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, and Elliot Anderson, who did not travel to Asia.
Omar Marmoush scored twice in a three-minute spell in the second half as Manchester City came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid in a friendly in Seoul, South Korea.
The Spanish side took the lead just before half-time when City failed to properly clear Koke’s corner and Morten Hjulmand set up 16-year-old Jorge Dominguez, who shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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But City equalised in the 57th minute. Antoine Semenyo did well to slide and keep the ball in play before he charged into the penalty area down the left flank and his low cross was converted by Marmoush.
The pair linked up again two minutes later with a near identical goal – Marmoush finishing comfortably following Semenyo’s low cross from the left.
There was a crowd of more than 50,000 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium and the loudest cheer was reserved for the second-half introduction of Atletico’s South Korea international Lee Kang-in.
He had a good chance to make it 2-2 when he was found unmarked near the penalty spot, but Lee could only hit his first-time effort just wide of the post.
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Rayan Ait-Nouri sealed the 3-1 victory with City’s third in injury time, racing on to Divin Mubama’s through ball and striking low and hard into the bottom corner.
This was City’s third and final game in Asia in pre-season. They lost 3-1 on penalties to Inter Milan after it had finished 1-1 in Hong Kong on 1 August and then beat a K League All-Stars team 3-1 in Seoul on Wednesday.
City, who defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final in May, are next in action on Sunday, 16 August when they take on reigning Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
That match will be vital for Enzo Maresca to give some game time to his players that played in the later stages of the World Cup as Erling Haaland, Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly and Elliot Anderson were among those that did not travel to Asia.
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