Played at Merlo Field, Portland, Oregan
Friendly
18th July 2010
attendance 5,018
scorers Ireland(43), Adebayor(44), Jo(68)
City 1st half Hart, Trippier, Boyata, Mee, Cunningham, Ireland, Zabaleta, A Johnson, Vieira, Bellamy, Adebayor
City 2nd half Taylor, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Cunningham, Tutte, Kay, Ibrahim, Helan, Guidetti, Jo – used subs Tchuimeni-Nimely, Onuoha, Bridge
Portland Cronin, Purdy, Smith, Danso, Joy, Gaudet, McManus, Nimo, Pore, Josten, Dike – used subs Pyzdrowski, Cameron, Kirk, Lopez, Keita, Keel, Mercelin, Thompson, DeMartin, Savage, Suzuki
It was billed as a training match, however 5,000 plus fans turned up to see City’s superstars.
With the temperature in the 70’s City controlled the game from the start, however in the 6th minute Joe Hart had to pull off an excellent save low down to his left to stop the Timbers taking the lead, and two minutes later City’s young defence let Portland through for a chance that went wide.
On 19 minutes an excellent move on the left ended with Bellamy setting Zabaletta up for a 20 yard shot that cleared the crossbar, two minutes later The Timbers had a similar chance at the other end.
City were forcing the play but Portland were matching The Blues with some excellent challenges to break up The Blues’ attacks.
The best moment of the match so far occurred in the 23rd minute as Bellamy cut in from the right and let fly with a 25 yard left foot shot which cannoned off the Timbers’ crossbar with the keeper well beaten.
Just before half-time City took the lead, a dazzling run and then a low right foot cross from Adam Johnson was fortuortously converted by Steven Ireland as it rebounded of his back from 10 yards into the net.
Before Portland could regroup it was 2-0 almost immediately, It was a brilliant cross, again from Adam Johnson, this time high to the far post where Adebayor put in a great header and despite the Timbers’ custodian getting his hands to the ball it still found it’s way into the net to Give City a 2-0 lead at the break.
In the second half Jo made it 3-0 with a crisp shot from the edge of the area. And although Portland tested Stuart Taylor on a couple of occasions Mamcini can be happy with the squads first outing of the season.