There were no tantalizing bicycle kicks like last year, and the "beautiful game" was a little ragged at times, but Baltimore's exposure to international soccer still produced its share of memorable moments Saturday night.
Much of that action unfolded in the first half at M&T Stadium, when a modest crowd announced at 36,569 saw two early scuffles, one curious red card and one spectacular goal.
Throw in an own-goal by Manchester City in the second half and European champion Inter Milan dominated for a 3-0 victory in the preseason friendly.
The loss closed out Manchester City's four-game American tour this summer. The Blues were playing without manager Roberto Mancini, who flew back to his native Italy to be with his gravely ill, 74-year old father Aldo. In Mancini's absence, Brian Kidd managed the game.
In Inter Milan's first preseason game under new manager Rafael Benitez, the Serie A champ looked polished and took advantage of several Manchester City mistakes. Inter took offense on several occasions at what it perceived as hard or dirty tackles, and Man City paid the price in a heated "friendly."
Nsofor Victor Obinna was a lightning rod for Inter. He was constantly around the goal and in position to score against an overmatched Adam Johnson.
Obinna just missed the game's first goal in the sixth minute when his header from the 6-yard box sailed over goalkeeper Joe Hart and the goal. But he more than made up for it in the 38th minute with a rocket strike from just inside the left corner of the penalty box.
Obinna took a pass from Esteban Cambiasso and launched a shot that skipped in front of Hart and hit net inside the far post.
The Nigerian international appeared to score again in the 54th minute. Obinna took a long crossing pass from Goran Pandev on the right side and had only Joleon Lescott to beat. Obinna stutter-stepped, then regrouped and hammered a left-footed shot that deflected off Lescott past goalkeeper Shay Given, both second-half substitutes.
It was scored an own-goal by Lescott, who had come on for Yaya Toure.
Man City, 1-3 on its U.S. tour, was dysfunctional on attack. It's recent signings of four high-priced players was not in evidence. Only Toure of the four played, and he did not distinguish himself.
To make it worst, the Blues had to play the final 69 minutes a man down.
Man City lost midfielder Patrick Vieira in the middle of the first half on a questionable red call. Vieira went up for a pass on Inter's side of the field and collided with Marco Materazzi, who came in late. Materazzi went to the ground clutching his face, and in the ensuing moments, Vieira was ejected by referee Baldomero Toedo.
The tone of the game was established early when Man City's Vincent Kompany and Inter's Goran Pandev collided going for the ball and both came away with yellow cards after pushing turned into shoving.
Inter's Samuel Eto'o was incensed after another hard foul in the second half. But Cristiano Biraghi's free kick from about 30 yards was blocked.
Moments later, however, with Inter on attack, Biraghi got the ball after an errant pass by a Man City defender. Biraghi quickly drilled a shot that found the inside of the net on the near corner, as Given flailed helpless at the kick.
Inter finished with 14 shots on goal and six corner kicks, compared to Man City's five and one. Man Chester was whistled for12 fouls in a dispiriting effort.