SOUTH CHINA 0 MAN CITY 1
1. Joe Hart 5. Pablo Zabaleta 81' 4. Vincent Kompany 6. Joleon Lescott 22. Gael Clichy 46' 18. Gareth Barry 60' 42. Yaya Toure 60' 7. James Milner 25. Fernandinho 70' 8. Samir Nasri 10. Edin Dzeko 80'
Subs: 2. Micah Richards 80' 9. Alvaro Negredo 60' 11. Scott Sinclair 81' 13. Aleksandar Kolarov 46' 14. Javi Garcia 70' 16. Sergio Aguero 17. Jack Rodwell 60' 30. Costel Pantilimon 33. Matija Nastasic 36. Denis Suarez 38. Dedryck Boyata 43. Alex Nimely 52. Emyr Huws 62. Abdul Razak 29. Richard Wright
New City coach Manuel Pellegrini returned after compassionate leave to see his charges record the first victory of his tenure.
On a difficult surface churned up by torrential rain and the first semi earlier on Wednesday, City produced a workmanlike performance with only man-of-the-match James Milner producing any real quality of note.
The tireless England midfielder crossed from the right in the 21st minute for Dzeko to head home from close range, and that proved to be the only goal.
New signing Alvaro Negredo was introduced in the second of two 40-minute periods, but the impressive organisation of South China frustrated the visitors and prevented them from making many in-roads.
Dzeko came closest to a second goal when he powered a shot at the keeper from Negredo's ball into the box, as City set up a final clash against Sunderland on Saturday.