BARCELONA 1 CITY 1
City won 4-3 on penalties
Colombina Tournament played in Huelva
15th August 1986
attendance 12,000
scorers
City Wilson(50)
Barcelona Roberto(16)
City Suckling, Reid, May, Clements, McCarthy, Redmond, Davies, McNab, Baker, Christie, Wilson – subs Brightwell(41), Kinsey(23)
Barcelona Urruti, Gerardo, Migueli, Julio Alberto, Victor, Fradera, Carrasco, Calderé, Roberto, Hughes, Marcos – used subs Esteban, Pedraza, Clos, Urbano
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 16TH AUGUST 1986
Manchester City must start the season without two key players.
Newcomer Trevor Christie, the striker signed from Derby County last week, and right back Nicky Reid are both hurt.
Christie has a groin strain, while Reid will return home tomorrow with a shoulder in a sling after dislocating his collarbone.
This is the legacy of the Blues’ morale-boosting victory over Barcelona in Huelva last night.
City held the millionaire Spanish side to 1-1 over 90 minutes.
Then a superb Perry Suckling save enabled them to win the penalty shoot-out 4-3, and qualify for tonight’s final against Huelva, the host club who play in the Spanish second division.
Christie should recover more quickly than Reid who is expected to be out of action for between six and eight weeks.
Manager Billy McNeill said: “This is a disastrous blow for us, but we shall just have to get over it. The loss of Christie is a major one, for he was just starting to show his fitness after joining us,”
Christie went off in the 22nd minute, five minutes after Barcelona had taken the lead.
Reid fell awkwardly when making a challenge shortly before half-time, and was carried off on a stretcher, and taken to hospital.
However, he returned to the ground before the game ended, although he was still in great discomfort.
Christie said today: “The problem is now a lot easier, coming off straight away helped a lot, but it will be touch and go when I can start the season, and I won’t be able to play against Everton on Tuesday.”
The match was not a classic, but it was a resounding success for City over one of the big names of world football, and one that can do much to boost morale for the season ahead.
Barcelona, lacking injured England striker Gary Lineker, were outclassed by City, particularly in the second half, when Neil McNab and Clive Wilson emerged the heroes.
McNab took a grip of the game to provide his best performance of the pre-season build-up with his flowing, inventive grace.
Wilson, rapidly developing as a scoring defender, pounced to finish off a sweet Andy May-Steve Kinsey right flank move that carved open the Spaniards at te back for the equaliser, three minutes into the second half.
Barcelona had taken a 17th minute lead with Roberto driving in a 20 yard shot that dipped over the fingers of Suckling.
But City’s smart young goalkeeper, he is sure to be a hit with Maine Road fans, had the last laugh.
His penalty save from the same player eased City through to a confrontation who surprised Jock Wallace’s Seville, the holders, 2-1.