In a captivating preseason friendly at Yankee Stadium, AC Milan emerged victorious with a 3-2 win against Premier League champions Manchester City. The match, held in New York City on Saturday, showcased the attacking prowess and defensive resilience of both teams.
Manchester City, playing at the home stadium of New York City FC, a fellow club within the City Football Group, initially took the lead. Erling Haaland scored a low-driven goal from an Oscar Bobb cutback in the 19th minute, giving City an early advantage. However, their lead was short-lived.
AC Milan's response was swift and decisive. Italy under-21 forward Lorenzo Colombo netted twice within four minutes, both times capitalizing on precise crosses from Samuel Chukwueze around the 30-minute mark. These goals shifted the momentum in Milan's favor, leaving City scrambling to regain control.
City managed to level the score in the 55th minute through young midfielder James McAtee, who connected with a cross from substitute Micah Hamilton. As the match appeared to be heading towards a penalty shootout, Milan's Marco Nasti, who had recently replaced Colombo, struck decisively with 12 minutes remaining to secure the win for the Rossoneri.
The match also featured the debut of U.S. men's national team star Christian Pulisic for AC Milan. Pulisic received a warm reception from the Yankee Stadium crowd, marking his first appearance since the United States' exit from the Copa América.
City, on the other hand, were without several key players, including Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, and Kyle Walker, who were recovering from their efforts at Euro 2024. Additionally, Julián Álvarez remained with Argentina at the Olympics.
Pep Guardiola, whose future at Manchester City remains under speculation with a potential contract extension, will now shift focus to their upcoming match against his former team, Barcelona, in Orlando on Tuesday.
AC Milan, buoyed by their win, will prepare to face another Spanish giant, Real Madrid, at Chicago's Soldier Field on Wednesday. The victory against City provides Milan with significant confidence as they continue their preseason preparations.
