Marmoush double helps Manchester City turn the tables on Atletico de Madrid

Omar Marmoush scored twice in two minutes as Manchester City came from behind to beat Atletico de Madrid 3-1 in an entertaining friendly in Seoul.

The Egyptian forward struck in the 57th and 59th minutes to overturn Jorge Dominguez’s first-half opener, before Algeria international Rayan Ait-Nouri completed the victory with a third goal in the 90th minute.

The match was played on Sunday at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the South Korean capital, with Manchester City securing an impressive comeback under new Italian manager Enzo Maresca.

Atletico had appeared to be in control when Dominguez gave the Spanish side the lead shortly before half-time. His goal, scored in the 43rd minute, sent the team into the interval ahead and left City needing a response after the break.

That response arrived rapidly through Marmoush. The Manchester City attacker scored twice within a two-minute spell, changing the direction of the match and putting the English club in front.

Both of Marmoush’s goals were created by his Ghanaian team-mate Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo repeatedly advanced down Atletico’s right defensive side, and his work in that area helped provide the opportunities from which Marmoush completed City’s comeback.

Atletico were unable to find another equaliser, while City continued to threaten as the friendly moved into its closing stages. Ait-Nouri then settled the result in the 90th minute after breaking through one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The game also marked Lee Kang-in’s first appearance for Atletico de Madrid. The South Korean midfielder came on as a substitute, adding particular local interest to the fixture in Seoul.

For Manchester City, the result provides a winning note before the club’s next scheduled match, although that encounter will carry greater competitive significance. City are due to face fellow English side Arsenal in the Community Shield next Sunday.

That match will be Manchester City’s first official fixture under Maresca. His appointment followed the departure of legendary manager Pep Guardiola, who left the club at the end of last season.

Maresca therefore begins his competitive tenure with City after a friendly in which his side showed the ability to recover from a deficit. Atletico’s early advantage survived until half-time, but Marmoush’s quickfire double gave the English team control before Ait-Nouri’s late finish confirmed the 3-1 scoreline.

The victory in Seoul was ultimately decided by City’s second-half response. Marmoush’s two goals in two minutes formed the key passage of the match, while Semenyo’s contribution from the right and Ait-Nouri’s late one-on-one finish completed a convincing turnaround against Atletico de Madrid.