SPOTLIGHT: Mario Balotelli scores for Manchester City before he was hauled off by Roberto Mancini
New season, same old Mario Balotelli for Manchester City.
Just when it seemed we would get through a whole pre-season tour, in the mad world of La-la-land, southern California, without any incident, Balotelli came up with something.
What on earth he thought he was doing when he was clear through and attempted a fancy spin and backheel, when a simple finish would have sufficed, the devil only knows.
But, friendly match or not, his manager was less than pleased.
He strode furiously along the touchline and ordered James Milner to get stripped for action.
Balotelli was hauled off, after half an hour, and exchanged furious words and gestures with his gaffer as he walked off.
With reserve keeper Stuart Taylor trying to calm him, Balotelli had another fit of pique and hurled his water bottle to the ground. It had to be retrieved by one of the City staff as it bounced onto the pitch with the match continuing.
Balotelli is a complex character, not as daft as his actions mark him out, and he often needs a guiding hand as much as he needs a kick up the backside.
Whether he took the description of an exhibition match too literally and thought it was a licence for frivolity and showboating, we don’t know.
But Mancini needed to send out a clear message that there can be no stupidity this season, on or off the pitch.
That was a shame because City had bossed the first half, and David Beckham – an anonymous spectator as the Blues passed rings around the MLS team – had his words rammed back down his throat.
He had claimed, days before the game, that City will never surpass United, a clear attempt to curry favour with Reds fans ahead of his match against them for the MLS All Stars in midweek.
But it angered City fans, who booed his name when read out, and was made known to the City players.
Rumous that he is planning a sequel to the old film, called “Offend it Like Beckham”, are not true.
It was not the reason Mancini played such a strong team from the kick off.
After two pre-season games of mix-and-match, he wanted to start building towards the start of the season.
Yaya Toure was not risked after damaging his ankle against Vancouver six days earlier, but it was a powerful line-up nonetheless.
It showed form the off as City were simply too slick, quick and well-organised, even for a team which is in the middle of its season.
Davis Silva was key man, buzzing around, enjoying the Mediterranean climate of 73F and constantly opening up the Galaxy defence.
But the dangers of pre-season games were only too evident when Gael Clichy banged heads with Hector Jimenez five minutes in, and then whacked his head on the ground.
He jumped to his feet but his knees buckled, and teammates anxiously called for help.
But he’s made of stern stuff for an ex-Arsenal player and carried on until half time when he was taken off as a precaution.
Silva and Balotelli looked a good combination while it lasted, and the Italian showed his better side to carve the opening for the opening goal on 20 minutes.
He and Micah Richards linked down the right and when the full back powered for the by-line he was tripped by Bryan Jordan.
The penalty was delayed while Richards received treatment but Balotelli feinted and rolled it in casually to open the scoring.
But that was it for Not-so-SuperMario as he raced onto a through ball and should have just finished clinically.
What he did was disrespectful to the hosts as well as just downright profligate. It is doubtful he would have done it in a training game – or if he had, he would have faced the censure of his teammates.
That took some of the steam out of City as Balotelli had been a danger, and Galaxy looked suitably encouraged.
They drew level on 53 minutes as Mike Magee let fly from 25 yards and the ball dipped over Joe Hart.
With beckham subbed at half time, the Californians stepped up a gear and Hart was flinging himself around the goal for a double save.
Sub John Gudietti spooned a great chance to win it, and so we went to penalties.
Joe Hart was the hero as it went to sudden death, making a couple of great ssaves and then smashing in the winning penalty.
CITY: Hart, Richards, Kompany (Savic 61), Lescott, Clichy (Kolarov ht), de Jong, Barry (Weiss 76), A. Johnson (Guidetti 82), Silva, (Wright-Phillips ht), Balotelli (Milner 30), Dzeko (Suarez 87)
Just when it seemed we would get through a whole pre-season tour, in the mad world of La-la-land, southern California, without any incident, Balotelli came up with something.
What on earth he thought he was doing when he was clear through and attempted a fancy spin and backheel, when a simple finish would have sufficed, the devil only knows.
But, friendly match or not, his manager was less than pleased.
He strode furiously along the touchline and ordered James Milner to get stripped for action.
Balotelli was hauled off, after half an hour, and exchanged furious words and gestures with his gaffer as he walked off.
With reserve keeper Stuart Taylor trying to calm him, Balotelli had another fit of pique and hurled his water bottle to the ground. It had to be retrieved by one of the City staff as it bounced onto the pitch with the match continuing.
Balotelli is a complex character, not as daft as his actions mark him out, and he often needs a guiding hand as much as he needs a kick up the backside.
Whether he took the description of an exhibition match too literally and thought it was a licence for frivolity and showboating, we don’t know.
But Mancini needed to send out a clear message that there can be no stupidity this season, on or off the pitch.
That was a shame because City had bossed the first half, and David Beckham – an anonymous spectator as the Blues passed rings around the MLS team – had his words rammed back down his throat.
He had claimed, days before the game, that City will never surpass United, a clear attempt to curry favour with Reds fans ahead of his match against them for the MLS All Stars in midweek.
But it angered City fans, who booed his name when read out, and was made known to the City players.
Rumous that he is planning a sequel to the old film, called “Offend it Like Beckham”, are not true.
It was not the reason Mancini played such a strong team from the kick off.
After two pre-season games of mix-and-match, he wanted to start building towards the start of the season.
Yaya Toure was not risked after damaging his ankle against Vancouver six days earlier, but it was a powerful line-up nonetheless.
It showed form the off as City were simply too slick, quick and well-organised, even for a team which is in the middle of its season.
Davis Silva was key man, buzzing around, enjoying the Mediterranean climate of 73F and constantly opening up the Galaxy defence.
But the dangers of pre-season games were only too evident when Gael Clichy banged heads with Hector Jimenez five minutes in, and then whacked his head on the ground.
He jumped to his feet but his knees buckled, and teammates anxiously called for help.
But he’s made of stern stuff for an ex-Arsenal player and carried on until half time when he was taken off as a precaution.
Silva and Balotelli looked a good combination while it lasted, and the Italian showed his better side to carve the opening for the opening goal on 20 minutes.
He and Micah Richards linked down the right and when the full back powered for the by-line he was tripped by Bryan Jordan.
The penalty was delayed while Richards received treatment but Balotelli feinted and rolled it in casually to open the scoring.
But that was it for Not-so-SuperMario as he raced onto a through ball and should have just finished clinically.
What he did was disrespectful to the hosts as well as just downright profligate. It is doubtful he would have done it in a training game – or if he had, he would have faced the censure of his teammates.
That took some of the steam out of City as Balotelli had been a danger, and Galaxy looked suitably encouraged.
They drew level on 53 minutes as Mike Magee let fly from 25 yards and the ball dipped over Joe Hart.
With beckham subbed at half time, the Californians stepped up a gear and Hart was flinging himself around the goal for a double save.
Sub John Gudietti spooned a great chance to win it, and so we went to penalties.
Joe Hart was the hero as it went to sudden death, making a couple of great ssaves and then smashing in the winning penalty.
CITY: Hart, Richards, Kompany (Savic 61), Lescott, Clichy (Kolarov ht), de Jong, Barry (Weiss 76), A. Johnson (Guidetti 82), Silva, (Wright-Phillips ht), Balotelli (Milner 30), Dzeko (Suarez 87)
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