Raheem Sterling made a dream debut for Manchester City, as Manuel Pellegrini's side beat AS Roma 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes in their International Champions Cup opener.

Sterling scored within three minutes of the start to give the Premier League side the lead at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Miralem Pjanic embarrassed Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero with a Roma equaliser from 25 yards on eight minutes, but the Argentine's discomfort was nothing compared to Ashley Cole's later in the match.

The former England defender gifted City the lead eight minutes into the second half when he completely mishit an attempted backpass, allowing 18-year-old City striker Kelechi Iheanacho to beat Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis from close range.

City had dominated the first half, with David Silva linking well with Sterling in a 4-3-3 formation, but the sheer number of second-half substitutions robbed the match of any flow and fluency.

Roma playmaker Adem Ljajic made it 2-2 from a free-kick on 88 minutes to send the match into penalties.

City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who replaced Caballero at half-time, kept out Seydou Keita's spot-kick in sudden-death after scoring an emphatic spot-kick of his own to secure two points for City for the shoot-out win.

City face Real Madrid on Friday as they continue their preparations for the new Premier League season, which starts with a visit to the Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion on 10 August.

-

 

 

-