Pre-match news.
Unbelievable scenes in Shanghai as Stuart Pearce names himself on the bench! The 44-year-old, who still trains alongside his team, is required because of knocks picked up by other members of the travelling squad.
The Match
It was a slow start by both sides as they looked to contain vital energy for later in the game in the humid conditions.
But after 10 minutes City were a goal down. The Blues failed to clear an Antlers corner before centre half Iwamasa bundled the ball beyond Hart.
Hart could do something about Kashima’s next chance though, the young keeper producing a smart stop coming out quickly to deny Fukai.
Moments later the England U19 keeper made another important save, this time Araibia the man to be frustrated by Hart.
City were struggling to create chances despite Pearce reverting to a 4-4-2 formation, but their first attempt on goal saw Paul Dickov’s shot saved after a quickly taken Claudio Reyna free kick on 24 minutes.
The Blues clicked into gear after that and Antoine Sibierski appeared to have won a penalty for City on 26 minutes. The French forward was hauled down by the Kashima keeper - but Chinese referee Wan Daxue amazingly gave a free kick to the Antlers.
City did level though on the half hour when Stephen Jordan raided down the left and provided a superb cross for Sibierski to head home at the far post.
A minute later City nearly took lead when Georgios Samaras ran down the right and crossed for Trevor Sinclair, playing wide on the left, who was inches away from converting.
But on six minutes before the break City were to go behind again when Dabo’s misplaced pass was picked up by Pashiro. His shot was parried by Joe Hart only for Masashi to knock in the rebound.
The Blues couldn’t level before the break and can count themselves unlucky to be behind.
HALF TIME: City 1-2 Kashima
The Japanese side stretched their lead on 61 minutes, catching City on the break and helped by a dubious offside decision - the goal scored by Brazilian substitute Marinaldo.
Further bad news for City saw Claudio Reyna carried off two minutes later after a nasty lunge by Almeiba.
City were back in the game though after 64 minutes when Paul Dickov supplied Georgios Samaras to fire home his second goal of tournament.
The Blues then pressed with half chances created by Sinclair and Sibierski which ultimately came to nothing.
Kashima then restored their two goal lead on 68 minutes when Joe Hart allowed a tame shot from Pashiro to squirm under his body. The pressure now off the Japanese side again.
Substitute Joey Barton then unleashed a spectacular right foot shot from the edge of the box within minutes of coming on. He then saw a left foot drive saved before picking up a booking.
That’s how the score remained, the Blues couldn’t quite pull it back in the end. City fly home on Monday and face FC Porto at home next Saturday.
