Inter defeat Manchester City on penalties as Maresca loses first match

Enzo Maresca lost his first match in charge of Manchester City after Inter Milan prevailed on penalties following a 1-1 friendly draw in Hong Kong. The exhibition contest was decided by a shootout, with Inter emerging victorious.

The game, staged in Hong Kong, finished level at 1-1 at the end of normal play before the outcome was settled from the spot. It represented Maresca’s initial outing as Manchester City’s manager and ended in defeat after the penalty sequence. Inter Milan claimed the win via the shootout, denying City a maiden victory under their new coach.

City’s opening match under Maresca therefore finished without a victory, the teams unable to be separated over the course of the friendly. The tie went to spot kicks after the draw, a format often used in exhibition fixtures to produce a clear winner. Inter converted enough penalties to secure the result, while Manchester City fell short in the shootout.

For Maresca, the loss will stand as the first on his managerial record at Manchester City despite the match being a non-competitive friendly. The fixture in Hong Kong allowed both sides to test players and tactics, but ultimately the scoreboard was decided away from open play. Inter’s success in the shootout gave them the bragging rights from the encounter.

The 1-1 scoreline in regulation meant the match lived up to expectations for a tight friendly, with neither side able to build a decisive margin during the game. Penalties provided the final chapter, and it was Inter Milan who took that final step to claim victory. Manchester City’s new era under Maresca therefore began with a defeat, albeit in an exhibition setting.

Inter’s shootout triumph in Hong Kong completed the contest and handed Maresca his first loss as Manchester City boss. The match will be recorded as a 1-1 draw with the deciding advantage going to Inter after penalties, leaving the new manager awaiting his first win in charge.