Kelechi Iheanacho is not a fully-fledged Manchester City player just yet, but he was on the score sheet as the Premier League champions got their US tour off to a winning start at Sporting Park.
Iheanacho
The former U17 star is said to be on trial for a first team place, after earning a place on the flight to America during last week’s training camp in Scotland.
Dedryck Boyata and Aleksandar Kolarov were the other scorers as City eased to victory over the current Major League Soccer champions.
Most of Pellegrini’s star players were still missing but there was another outing for new signings Willy Caballero and Fernando as well as some who might not be at the club much longer, such as Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair, Matija Nastasic and Javi Garcia.
Manchester City opened the scoring after just two minutes, when the ball fell kindly for Zuculini on the edge of the area and the Argentine applied a clinical finish by hooking a volley inside the post.
Iheanacho wearing jersey No.72, would have added a second but for a fingertip save from goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.
Kansas equalized when they left Sapong unmarked and he had time to bring down Benny Feilhaber’s cross from the right and draw Caballero out of his goal before sliding home an equaliser.
But City grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time when Jesus Navas won a freekick which he swung in from the right for Boyata to power in a header from close range.
Kansas again threatened an equaliser in the second period – not least when Caballero produced a reflex save to keep out Michael Kafari’s effort – but City made sure of victory when Kafari brought down Scott Sinclair and Kolarov comfortably converted from the spot before Iheanacho added a late fourth with a cool finish.