Source: Team_Talk
Super Mario inspires City win
Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko were both on target as Manchester City beat Inter Milan 3-0 at the Aviva Stadium to lift the Dublin Super Cup.[LNB] Balotelli, so often the villain since he swapped the Nerazzurri for City, was the star of the show, opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time after a fine first-half performance.[LNB]Dzeko netted a second immediately after the restart and Adam Johnson wrapped things up in injury time, as new signing Sergio Aguero watched on from the sidelines.[LNB]The impressive performance allowed City to prepare for next weekend's Community Shield clash with Manchester United in style, and they were rarely in trouble after taking a grip on the game from the off.[LNB]David Silva thought he had given them a second-minute lead when he slotted home under Julio Cesar, but the officials deemed that Balotelli's run across the goalkeeper came from an offside position.[LNB]Balotelli then headed over, before he and Yaya Toure were denied by Cesar.[LNB]City continued to attack and Dzeko converted an Aleksandar Kolarov cross, only to turn and see the flag raised once more - this time incorrectly.[LNB]Balotelli would not be denied before the break, though, powering a header into the top corner after Cesar had saved from him at his near post.[LNB]Dzeko made it two seconds after the restart, finishing clinically after Silva's smart reverse pass, before Cesar saved again from the same player.[LNB]Inter threatened briefly when Joe Hart clawed Wesley Sneijder's deflected free-kick over the crossbar, before City wrapped things up, with Shaun Wright-Phillips forcing his way into the box before squaring for the waiting Johnson.[LNB]Manager Roberto Mancini praised Balotelli afterwards, and also confirmed Aguero would start the United game on the bench.[LNB]"Mario should play like today, always," he told Sky Sports 2.[LNB]"Because he has class, he has everything. If his concentration is in his head, he can play like this.[LNB]"This week for Sergio will be recovery. He did the Copa America and finished only two weeks ago. He will be ready to come on the bench next week."[LNB]In the day's early game, Celtic hammered an Airtricity League XI 5-0.[LNB]Irish strikers Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes shared three goals, with Stokes getting a brace and Murphy a penalty, while Gary Hooper also scored twice.
