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Played
July 17, 2011 1:00 AM BST
July 17, 2011 1:00 AM BST
America 0-2 Manchester City: Premier League club win first game of their North American tour
Ryan McGivern and winger Shaun Wright-Phillips score the goals as Roberto Mancini's side seal an encouraging victory over Mexican opposition in the United States
By Mike Slane
Manchester City vs. Club America, World Football Challenge (Getty Images)
Manchester City opened their North American tour with a 2-0 victory over Club America in front of a sparse crowd at AT&T Park following two weeks of training with what the players consider an improved squad from last season.
Defender Ryan McGivern and winger Shaun Wright-Phillips put City on the board in the first half and the Premier League team held out to win their pre-season opener.
"In training we've been working on pressing high and pressing well as a team," Wright-Phillips said.
"I think in the first 15 minutes we tried to just do that and put the practice into action."
Goalkeepers Joe Hart and Stuart Taylor paired up for the clean sheet for the Citizens, who will play in the Uefa Champions League next season after winning the 2011 FA Cup and finishing third in the league.
City centre-back Vincent Kompany said: "After last season, it is definitely going to be a big season for us and I think we have improved.
"We have a stronger squad than last season, especially now that we've had time to prepare. It's exciting times for us."
City were without captain Carlos Tevez, who was on duty for Argentina in the quarter-final of the Copa America against Uruguay, and saw his penalty-kick saved in the decisive shoot-out as the hosts crashed out of the tournament.
Coach Roberto Mancini said after hearing the news: "I'm very sorry for him because for Argentina it was very important, the Copa America.”
But City did well without their top scorer against the Mexican club.
McGivern struck first for the Blues after Edin Dzeko and Wright-Phillips worked the ball in the box. The 21-year-old curled the ball to the far post to put his team up one 16 minutes into the game.
Dzeko set up City's second goal 11 minutes later when he found Wright-Phillips, whose shot from 20 yards out cruised past America goalkeeper Armando Navarrete.
"I saw a glimpse of the goal and I thought I was just trying to get a clean strike in because normally I'm paused in that position," Wright-Phillips said. "I thought I should just get a shot off and it went in."
The World Football Challenge match-up featured the debut of Gael Clichy, who made a move from Arsenal earlier this summer. Stefan Savic also played for City, who picked up the Montenegro international from Partizan Belgrade on a four-year deal on July 6.
"Today was important that we played this game and we didn't have any injuries," Mancini said. "We've been working hard the last two weeks and it is important we won this game."
Manchester City will travel north of the border to take on the Whitecaps.
Defender Ryan McGivern and winger Shaun Wright-Phillips put City on the board in the first half and the Premier League team held out to win their pre-season opener.
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"In training we've been working on pressing high and pressing well as a team," Wright-Phillips said.
"I think in the first 15 minutes we tried to just do that and put the practice into action."
Goalkeepers Joe Hart and Stuart Taylor paired up for the clean sheet for the Citizens, who will play in the Uefa Champions League next season after winning the 2011 FA Cup and finishing third in the league.
City centre-back Vincent Kompany said: "After last season, it is definitely going to be a big season for us and I think we have improved.
"We have a stronger squad than last season, especially now that we've had time to prepare. It's exciting times for us."
City were without captain Carlos Tevez, who was on duty for Argentina in the quarter-final of the Copa America against Uruguay, and saw his penalty-kick saved in the decisive shoot-out as the hosts crashed out of the tournament.
Coach Roberto Mancini said after hearing the news: "I'm very sorry for him because for Argentina it was very important, the Copa America.”
But City did well without their top scorer against the Mexican club.
McGivern struck first for the Blues after Edin Dzeko and Wright-Phillips worked the ball in the box. The 21-year-old curled the ball to the far post to put his team up one 16 minutes into the game.
Dzeko set up City's second goal 11 minutes later when he found Wright-Phillips, whose shot from 20 yards out cruised past America goalkeeper Armando Navarrete.
"I saw a glimpse of the goal and I thought I was just trying to get a clean strike in because normally I'm paused in that position," Wright-Phillips said. "I thought I should just get a shot off and it went in."
The World Football Challenge match-up featured the debut of Gael Clichy, who made a move from Arsenal earlier this summer. Stefan Savic also played for City, who picked up the Montenegro international from Partizan Belgrade on a four-year deal on July 6.
"Today was important that we played this game and we didn't have any injuries," Mancini said. "We've been working hard the last two weeks and it is important we won this game."
Manchester City will travel north of the border to take on the Whitecaps.
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