New Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick made a triumphant begin to his tenure on Tuesday because the Spanish giants beat Manchester Metropolis on penalties after their pre-season pleasant at Orlando completed 2-2 at full-time.
Toni Fernandez, who signed with Barca earlier this month after turning 16, flicked in a left-footed shot previous reserve Metropolis goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to present the German supervisor’s facet a 4-1 win on penalties.
Barcelona kicked off their US tour within the pre-season contest in opposition to the four-time reigning Premier League champions, guided by former Barcelona participant and coach Pep Guardiola.
A sellout crowd of 63,237 spectators had been sad early as a storm delayed the beginning by 80 minutes, however had been delighted with a powerful early tempo, earlier than each groups gave reserve gamers considerable time on the pitch.
Barcelona jumped forward 3-0 on penalty kicks due to a left-footed shot by Alejandro Balde earlier than Amar Ahmed saved Metropolis in it by beating reserve Barca goalkeeper Ander Astralaga, setting the stage for the teenager newcomer’s heroics.
Pau Victor had opened the scoring in open play for Barcelona within the twenty fourth minute, taking a fast by way of ball move from Marc Casado and firing a right-footed blast from the precise facet into the purpose.
Nico O’Riley answered for Manchester Metropolis within the thirty ninth minute, firing in a left-footed shot from the left facet off a move from Josko Gvardiol, the Croatian worldwide making his first US tour begin.
Pablo Torre’s purpose within the second minute of first-half stoppage time gave Barcelona a 2-1 half-time lead.
The 21-year-old Spanish midfielder took a centering move from Gerard Martin on the left wing, nudged the ball to his proper, then blasted a right-footed shot previous Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson and contained in the left put up.
Jack Grealish equalized for Metropolis within the sixtieth minute off a formidable quick break.
Croatian worldwide Mateo Kovacic, making his first begin on Metropolis’s US tour, gathered a unfastened ball simply past the Metropolis field, cut up two defenders and raced upfield with the ball earlier than passing to English left winger Grealish, who outraced a defender and completed with an excellent left-footed shot from a steep angle excessive into the purpose.
Barcelona will proceed their US tour with pre-season matches in opposition to Actual Madrid and AC Milan.
Metropolis, who misplaced earlier US matches to Celtic and AC Milan, will shut the US tour by going through Chelsea on Saturday at Columbus, Ohio.
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