Despite boasting more of the possession and the greater number of clear chances to score, City went out of the competition at the group stages at the hands of a clinical Athletic Club.
Goals from Urtzi Urcelay and Gorka Guruzeta, separated by Bersant Celina’s 52nd minute equaliser, did the damage on a night where the importance of being decisive in front of goal was laid bare.
It’s now less than a month until Patrick Vieira takes up his new post as New York City FC Head Coach and so this International Premier League Cup clash represented one of the Frenchman’s last games in charge of the Elite Development Squad.
City faced off against Athletic Club in a straight shootout for a place in the last eight of the competition Vieira’s side won the first iteration of back in May.
Following a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland and a 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach, only a win would overhaul the visitors in International Premier League Cup Group D and confirm runners-up spot for City.
Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to the opposition being stuck in traffic and the visitors were caught cold inside the first minute when they should have been behind.
George Glendon capitalised on a poor pass out of defence, squaring to Bersant Celina who in turn found Ambrose but the Frenchman could only force Jon Ander Felipe into a decent save close to his body when he had the whole of the goal to aim at.
Ambrose had another glorious chance after four when minutes when he raced onto a long drop-kick from Gunn, muscling his way through a corridor of defenders but his volley with the outside of his foot drifted wide of the target.
Captain Kean Bryan was forced off injured 24 minutes into the game, allowing Manu Garcia to enter the fray just 24 hours after he was on the bench for the first-team’s win over Hull.
David Faupala and Aaron Nemane switched wings in an attempt to unsettle the Athletic defence for the remainder of the half but, aside from that choppy opening five minute spell, the Spanish side were proving difficult to break down.
After the interval, City had to learn one of football’s most worn lessons – that of taking chances when on top - as three minutes into the second period, Athletic took the lead.
It was the visitors’ first real foray into opposition territory when Gorka Guruzeta pounced on some slack defending and squared to Urcelay who was left with a tap-in with what was Bilbao’s first shot on goal.
Fortunately, City picked themselves up off the canvas and drew themselves level on their very next attack courtesy of Celina’s 52nd minute strike.
The Kosovan international’s combination play with Nemane was scintillating as the pair carved open the Athletic defence, leaving Bersant with a simple finish into the bottom corner past Felipe who was, for once, rooted to the spot.
With 25 minutes to go and City still needing a goal to advance, Vieira brought Lukas Nmecha on for Glendon to try and give his side a little more going.
The change nearly paid immediate dividends as Nmecha and Faupala showed strength and determination to work an opening for Garcia but Manu could only poke the ball inches wide under pressure.
Unsurprisingly, gaps started to emerge as City committing an increasing number of men forward and Athletic capitalised, regaining the lead through Guruzeta with 13 minutes remaining.
The visitors turned defence into attack at rapid speed and when a perfect delivery came over from the right side, the Athletic no.9 was there to steer it past Gunn with a powerful header.
That’s how it stayed, meaning City’s International Premier League Cup reign is over for another year and Athletic advance to the quarter finals with Sunderland.
