Manuel Pellegrini picked up his first piece of silverware as Manchester City manager on Saturday in Hong Kong, but it came at a potential cost with centre-half Matija Nastasic stretchered off.
Edin Dzeko’s spectacular volley from outside the box on nine minutes –his second goal in two games – was enough to edge City past a dogged Sunderland 1-0 and give them the Barclays Asia Trophy.
But the dire condition of the pitch at the 40 000 sell-out Hong Kong Stadium – where Manchester United play on Monday – will again come under the spotlight after the Serbian Nastasic became the second Premier League player to fall victim to the treacherous conditions after days of heavy rain.
Key Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen faces a race to be fit for the start of the Premier League season in three weeks after injuring his ankle in a 3-1 defeat to Sunderland at the same venue on Wednesday.
There was no immediate information as to the seriousness of Nastasic’s injury.
© sepersport.com.
