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Manchester City midfielder George Evans, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Martin Demichelis while playing against the Toronto FC in Toronto on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

George Evans scored from distance in the 85th minute to lift Manchester City to a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in a soccer friendly Wednesday night.

The 20-year-old substitute midfielder, a member of City's Elite Development Squad, found the top corner with an exquisite shot from outside the penalty box.

Up until then, it looked as if Toronto, sparked by its youngsters in the second half, would hold the England powerhouse to a scoreless draw. Bright Dike had a chance to tie it in stoppage time but headed wide.

Toronto had spent much of the first half chasing the slick-passing tourists as the Canadian women's national team looked on from one corner of BMO Field. The women got a rousing ovation from the announced crowd of 23,169 when they came onto the field to take a bow at halftime.

Star striker Sergio Aguero, who led the English Premier League in scoring this season and reportedly makes more than $300,000 (U.S.) a week, came off the bench to loud cheers to start the second half. Argentine international Pablo Zabaleta also joined the fray.

The home side countered by introducing Jonathan Osorio, Warren Creavalle and three players from Toronto FC II.

And it was Toronto teenager Jordan Hamilton who came close when he sent a shot just wide after a fine run into the box was spotted by Manny Aparicio in the 55th minute. The 19-year-old Hamilton came close again 10 minutes later, forcing goalie Willy Caballero to palm the ball away.

The younger version of Toronto FC gave a good account of itself as Man City emptied its bench. Aguero had his chances but could not convert, and pleaded unsuccessfully for a penalty when he went down in the 78th minute as a rainbow appeared above the East Stand.

David Silva's hard, close-range shot was stopped by Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono's face in the 75th minute, causing the crowd to cringe when the play was shown on the big screen.

A minute late, the 19-year-old Aparicio hit the post with a volley off a Jackson feed. At the other end, Nick Hagglund then made a key block.

Toronto fielded a strong lineup, at least to start with. Regulars Michael Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, Benoît Cheyrou, Justin Morrow, Ashtone Morgan and Nick Hagglund started with goalie Joe Bendik returning after a six-game absence due to a foot injury.

Giovinco, who came into the game nursing a bruised heel, exited in the 28th minute – to boos from fans who presumably wanted to see more. Bendik gave way to Bono at the same time, moments after a diving save on David Silva The City starting 11 featured three players – Yaya Touré, Aleksandar Kolarov and Silva – who started in Sunday's Premier League finale, a 2-0 win over Southampton. Six other City starters Wednesday were on the bench Sunday.

They played God Save the Queen before the game, but the only British starter was Toronto striker Luke Moore.

City brought eight members of its Elite Development Squad on tour with 20-year-old French midfielder Seko Fofana starting and the other seven on the 12-man bench. Fofana was lent to Fulham this season.

Silva and Edin Dzeko both fired just wide in the first half as Man City played keepaway against the hosts. One City corner followed a sequence of some two dozen passes.

"Little to report in the way of action but Blues largely dominated proceedings," the official Man City Twitter account correctly surmised.

City, which finished runner-up to Chelsea this season with a 24-7-7 record, plays in Houston on Thursday night before wrapping up its tour in New York on Saturday to see sister club New York City FC play the Dynamo.

There has been speculation that the flooding in Texas may affect the game Thursday, however.

City players have had a more relaxing time in Toronto since arriving Monday.

Aguero tweeted a photo of himself with Will Smith on the Toronto set of Suicide Squad.

James Milner and goalkeepers Hart and Richard Wright visited the Rogers Centre, chatting with Jose Bautista, touring the Jays' locker room and trying their hand in the batting cage.

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