The Premier League side seemed to have settled the tie when Sergio Aguero opened the scoring, but a late goal from Thomas Tuchel's charges forced it into penalties Despite conceding a last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw with
Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City were able to celebrate Pep Guardiola's first win in charge thanks to a penalty shootout success.
It looked as though City would claim the triumph in regulation time when David Silva and Sergio Aguero - off the bench and featuring for the first time since last season - combined for the latter to open the scoring in the 79th minute in China. But just when it seemed they had done enough for a 1-0 victory, City switched off from a corner in the fifth minute of
stoppage time and Christian Pulisic's effort crept its way into
the net, through the legs of replacement goalkeeper Angus
Gunn. Although Gunn - the son of former Norwich goalkeeper Bryan
Gunn - may feel he could have done better with that goal, the
20-year-old proved the hero in the shootout, saving three
times as City prevailed 6-5 after eight kicks apiece. With Raheem Sterling having missed City's seventh effort, Gunn
saved from Jacob Bruun Larsen to keep City in it and then again
from Mikel Merino after Angelino's successful conversion for the
victors. Likely hindered by the 30-degree temperatures and sluggish
pitch, the game was a far cry from the incisive, attacking
football the expectant Shenzhen crowd had come to see. While City had Monday's meeting with Manchester United in
Beijing cancelled due to adverse weather, Dortmund had
thrashed the same opponents 4-1 last Friday and Guardiola's
side started in sloppy fashion here. Dortmund were almost gifted an opener three times in the first
20 minutes when two errant passes from Willy Caballero and
one from Tosin Adarabioyo led to chances for Ousmane Dembele
and Emre Mor, but neither man could convert. READ MORE | City's hopes for domination on hold PLAY While posing a danger to themselves, City continued to look a
threat going forward with Kelechi Iheanacho denied by Roman
Burki, who effected a stunning point-blank save with his right
boot on the stroke of half-time. Dortmund ought to have gone in front with 15 minutes to play
when Marco Hober's sublime reverse ball set up fellow
substitute Gonzalo Castro, who prodded straight at Gunn when
clean through. And Thomas Tuchel's side were left to rue that miss shortly
afterwards as Aleix Garcia's exquisite pass released Silva inside
the area, and the Spaniard selflessly squared for Aguero to complete an easy finish. Pulisic looked to have saved Dortmund with the final kick, but Gunn's three excellent saves handed Guardiola his first success
as City boss.