Enzo Maresca secured his first victory as Manchester City manager with a 3-1 triumph over the K-League All Stars in Seoul. The match saw all four goals scored within the first 23 minutes, as City bounced back from their previous penalty shoot-out loss to Inter Milan. Goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Divin Mubama sealed the win for City, who utilized 22 players throughout the game.
Maresca's tactical approach was notable, with Rico Lewis supporting the midfield duo of Mateo Kovacic and Reijnders when City were in possession, resulting in a three-man defense. Ait-Nouri and Antoine Semenyo played key roles as wingers, with their high and wide positioning paying off early on. Semenyo, in particular, stood out with his lively performance, terrorizing the hosts' defense and providing a sublime assist for Reijnders' goal. Despite not scoring, Semenyo was City's best player, and his impressive display will likely make him a crucial asset under Maresca's management.
The match also highlighted areas for improvement, including City's tendency to concede quickly after scoring, with the K-League All Stars equalizing just three minutes after Ait-Nouri's opener. This vulnerability on City's right side was exploited again, mirroring their previous match against Inter Milan. As Maresca looks to build on this win, he will need to address these defensive concerns to ensure his team's success in the upcoming season.