CITY BEAT SOUTH CHINA

Manuel Pellegrini oversaw his first win
as Manchester City boss with a 1-0
victory against South China on
Wednesday.
An early goal from Edin Dzeko proved
the difference between the teams, in a
match shortened to 80 minutes after
heavy rain in Hong Kong prior to kick-
off had waterlogged the pitch.
As a result of their triumph, City will now prepare to face Sunderland in the final of
the 2013 Barclays Asia Trophy friendly tournament, which will take place on
Saturday.
Pellegrini, who was returning to the dugout having missed City's last friendly outing
due to the death of his mother, named a familiar-looking starting XI containing only
one recent signing in the form of midfielder Fernandinho.
His team subsequently started with encouraging fluency, as Dzeko twice went close,
the latter opportunity seeing the Bosnian narrowly fail to convert a James Milner
cross.
But that combination paid dividends moments later, with the tall striker making no
mistake as he headed home a cross from the former Leeds United midfielder to put his
side 1-0 to the good.
The goal-mouth action largely dried up prior to the end of a truncated first half, but
Pellegrini took the unusual step of making just one substitution - with Aleksandar
Kolarov replacing Gael Clichy at left-back.
A further flurry of changes followed after the interval, but barring a Fernandinho
clearance off the line and a clash of heads involving Micah Richards, fans at the
Hong Kong Stadium had little to get excited about in the second half.
City will take on Sunderland next after they beat Tottenham 3-1 earlier on
Wednesday.