In the training tournament International Champions Cup City faced off with Roma on Australian soil. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after an entertaining and exciting game that was played at a surprisingly high tempo considering that both teams are in pre-season. Sterling and Iheanacho both scored for City while Pjanic and Ljajic scored for Roma. The match was subsequently decided on penalties, which City won after Hart stood for a great show.
The game starts and Already after two minutes in the City-sweater Sterling scores his first City goals. The Nigerian wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho got off a perfect long range pass through Romas high back line that found its way into a free Sterling, who coolly put the ball into the net behind De Sanctis. 1-0 to City.
However, City's joy did not last long as Roma scored to make it 1-1 in the seventh minute. Just outside the penalty area Pjanic smashed the ball and through a superbly shot ball it suddenly went into the net behind Caballero. Really nicely done indeed.
In the 22nd minute City should've received a penalty, but in some strange way the referee decided to not award it even though he stood from a perfect position saw Sterling getting swiped off his legs by Florenzi in the Roma penalty area.
At half time both teams made a bunch of changes. In the 50th minute Roma were kind to invite City to more goalscoring opportunities. Roma juggled the ball nice and quietly in the back line until Ashley Cole suddenly hit the ball to Iheanacho who was free with De Sanctis and he was completely ice cold when he booted the ball into the net to make it 2-1 to City.
Roma managed to scored the 2-2 goal with five minutes left and although this time the goal was really neat. Roma were given a free kick just outside the City penalty area and Ljajic elegantly lifted the ball over the City wall. This meant that the game would be decided on penalties.
Kolarov missed while Yaya, Navas, Lopes, Hart and Horsfield scored. For Roma Doumbia and Keita missed after Joe Hart showed his class and his mockery skills while Nainggolan, Ljajic, Destro and Falque was more accurate.
City win 5-4