The Blues created numerous chances but were guilty of poor finishing against Toronto and despite dominating the first half, City were fortunate not to concede a couple of goals after the break.
City started with just three of the players who began the weekend win over Southampton, otherwise it was – as expected - a much-changed XI against the Canadians.
With more than 23,000 fans at the BMO Field, City began brightly under the promptings of David Silva and Wilfried Bony twice went close in the first half-hour with low shots and Edin Dzeko also sent a drive just a foot wide.
The MLS side offered little in the opening period with Willy Caballero a bystander for much of the game, but as both teams rang the changes at the break, so Toronto started to look more threatening on the break.
Dzeko, Silva and half-time sub Sergio Aguero both had chances to put City head before Hamilton broke through only to fire wide of Caballero.
As the subs rolled on and off and City ended up with a team that was more EDS than senior side, it looked as though the match would end goalless.
But within the space of 90 seconds, the game was won and lost, depending which side you were cheering on as Manu Aparicio saw his shot hit the inside of the City post on 83 minutes and in City’s next attack – at last – the breakthrough.
There seemed little danger when the ball was played to George Evans 25 yards out but the Academy youngster looked up, fancied his chances and struck a beautiful shot into the top right-hand corner.
Overall, it was no more than City deserved but there was still time for Dike to miss a sitter in added time as Toronto kept battling to the end of what had been an entertaining tussle between two committed sides.
