West Ham United trail Manchester City 1-0 at half-time in the first-ever match played between two English Premier League clubs in Iceland.
Gabriel Jesus scored the only goal of the opening 45 minutes in The Super Match, which is being played at the Laugardsvollur national stadium in Reykjavik. The Hammers are also honouring the late Dylan Tombides by wearing the logo of the charity founded in his memory, DT38 Foundation, on their Away shirts.
In truth, Pep Guardiola’s side controlled much of the first period, creating more than half-a-dozen chances, winning six corners and taking the lead through Brazil striker Jesus’s eight-minute strike.
After an encouraging opening, West Ham were guilty of playing a part in their own downfall as Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku got themselves in a muddle, allowing right wing-back Danilo to steal possession.
The summer signing from Real Madrid passed on possession to Kevin De Bruyne, who crossed accurately for Jesus to convert from close range.
From then on, City took the upper hand, keeping the ball for long periods, as has become their trademark under Guardiola.
De Bruyne fired a low free-kick into the wall before David Silva – sporting a crewcut hairstyle – played in Sergio Aguero, but City loanee Joe Hart was there to make the save.
The opportunities were flowing for the men in sky blue, who saw Vincent Kompany fire over, Aguero’s volley blocked by Jose Fonte and Hart deny Leroy Sane and Jesus – all before the half-hour mark.
West Ham’s first and only real chance of the half came on 29 minutes, when Pedro Obiang played in Pablo Zabaleta down the right and the Argentinian crossed for Toni Martinez, but the Spanish striker could not keep his header down.
After Sane had flashed a shot across the face of goal, the Hammers did threaten again momentarily three minutes before half-time, but goalkeeper Ederson rushed from his penalty area to clear before Martinez could touch the ball past him.
Having created City’s first goal, Danilo came close to adding a second on the stroke of half-time, but Hart pushed his near-post shot out for a seventh and final corner of the half.
West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta, Fonte, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Obiang, Noble (c), Ayew, Fernandes, Arnautovic, Martinez
Subs: Adrian (GK), Byram, Collins, Rice, Makasi, Holland, Snodgrass, Chicharito
Manchester City: Ederson, Kompany (c), Stones, Otamendi, Yaya Toure, De Bruyne, Sane, Silva, Danilo, Jesus, Aguero
Subs: Muric (GK), Grimshaw (GK), Walker, Sterling, Mangala, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Roberts, Zinchenko, Adarabioyo, Diaz, Foden