Joe Hart saved A.J. DeLaGarza’s penalty and then scored the winner in the ninth round of a penalty shootout as Manchester City beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Mario Balotelli opened the scoring for Man City from the penalty spot after Micah Richards was taken down in the box by Bryan Jordan. Less than 10 minutes Balotelli was on the bench after this showboating play drew the ire of City boss Roberto Mancini.
Mike Magee leveled for the Galaxy in the 53rd with a dipping volley from outside the box and then Joe Hart had to make a couple of really good saves to deny the Galaxy the win during normal time.
First Hart saved with his legs from point blank range from Todd Dunivant and then, when the ball was fired back in by Dan Keat, he plunged to his right to push the shot round the post.
City were very unimpressive in the second half but they should have won it at the end when substitute John Guidetti shot over when he had the whole goal to shoot at. If it had gone in it would have been a victory that Roberto Mancini’s team didn’t really deserve.