Evans’ late strike seals ManCity friendly win in Toronto
A stunning strike from 20-year-old midfielder George Evans gave Premier League runners-up Manchester City a 1-0 friendly win over Toronto FC on Wednesday.
The outcome was a deserved win for the English visitors, who dominated possession throughout, but squandered a wealth of scoring chances.
Evans, who has yet to make his league debut for City, collected a ball from Martin Demichelis and curled a shot from 30 yards out into the top right-hand corner to break the deadlock in the 84th minute.
He ensured that Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who finished off the Premier League season with six successive victories, made a winning start to their North American tour.
On Friday they are slated to face Toronto’s Major League Soccer rivals the Houston Dynamo, although flooding in the Texas city could threaten the fixture.
Pellegrini included first-team regulars David Silva, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany alongside less experienced Dedryck Boyata, Seko Fofana and Willy Caballero in his starting lineup.
Before more than 23,000 fans at BMO Field, City saw David Silva and Wilfried Bony twice go close in the first half hour, while Edin Dzeko also fired just wide.
Toronto barely mustered a shot in the first half.
The second half brought much of the same, although the introduction of Sergio Aguero gave City extra pace up front.
Toronto at last began to press forward, Manny Aparicio’s 76th minute effort that struck the post was their best opportunity.