It was a performance brimful of promise and class from Manuel Pellegrini’s charges, even though they were pegged back to 2-2 in normal time.
If Sterling, the most expensive English player withvav $79 million price tag, started the job – and his City career – in style with a goal after just two minutes and 17 seconds, Joe Hart finished it by saving two penalties and scoring one of his own.
The 20 year old Sterling was first jeered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when he tripped over the ball on one of his first touches in the area, but a minute later soaked up the acclaim after slotting home a through ball from Nigerian teenager Kelechi Iheanacho.
If there was any weight on Sterling’s shoulders following his high profile move, his early contribution will have lifted it, and he continued to torment the Roma defence with his pace and movement throughout his 45-minute involvement.
The lead did not last long though, with Willy Caballero helpless to prevent Miralem Pjanic’s rocket flying into the top corner after eight minutes.
Man City line – up against Roma
Sterling drove forward again midway through the half and had a strong penalty appeal waved away when he went down under Alessandro Florenzi’s challenge.
Just before the break Roma enjoyed their best spell with Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala called into action, but shortly after it City were back in front.
After a slack back-pass from Roma’s Ashley Cole, Kelechi showed supreme composure to control the ball before lashing it high past De Sanctis.
At that point City turned on the style, Barker and Lopes combining to sublime effect at times in midfield.
But as the half wore on Roma forced their way back into the game and eventually they equalised again, in some style.
The referee awarded a free-kick against Yaya Toure on the edge of the box for a challenge on Seydou Doumbia, and Adem Ljajic fired a pinpoint effort into the top corner.
Into the penalty shoot out it went. Toure, Jesus Navas, Lopes scored for City, with only Aleks Kolarov missing when his effort went high and wide.
With Roma scoring their first four, Hart turned the tables by smashing in City’s fourth and putting pressure on Doumbia.
England’s number one saved the former CSKA Moscow man’s effort, James Horsfield scored, and Hart saved from Seydou Keita to complete the job.
Sterling’s transfer generated plenty of debate, but his man-of-the-match performance was a positive start in justifying his price-tag and was well received by manager Manuel Pellegrini.
“He worked with our team just a few days so I’m happy in the way he played,” Pellegrini told reporters.
“He demonstrated why he is here. He demonstrated not only his value as a player, he’s also a very young player so he will improve a lot in future playing with Yaya (Toure), playing with David Silva … so I’m very happy with him and very happy for our team to buy him.”
Sterling was desperately unlucky not to create a second goal before being substituted at halftime, garnering no sympathy from Australian referee Jarred Gillett despite a forceful challenge from Alessandro Florenzi that took out the Englishman’s legs.
His threatening partnership with Silva, the pair carving up the Roma defence on occasions, also augured well.
“Always, good players will link immediately when they know how to play,” Pellegrini said.
“Immediately David (found) a very good striker where he’s making good movements.”
Roma coach Rudi Garcia was buoyed in defeat by his side’s fight and two quality goals that saw them equalise twice.
Adem Ljajic curled in a sumptuous free kick three minutes from full-time after being brought down just outside the box, while Miralem Pjanic scored their first in the eighth minute with a thundering 25-metre strike.
Iheanacho hammered home City’s second in the 51st minute, latching onto a botched defensive pass intended for keeper Morgan de Sanctis.
City will next play Real Madrid on Friday.
Referee:
J Gillet
TeamsManchester City:
Caballero (Hart 46), Sagna (Horsfield 46), Kompany (C) (Evans 82), Mangala (Denayer 46), Clichy (Kolarov 46), Fernando (Toure 46), Zuculini (Nasri 46), Garcia (Navas 46), Silva (Lopes 46), Sterling (Barker 46), Iheanacho (Unal 51).
Unused subs:
Wright, Dzeko, Humphreys, Fofana, Glendon, Jovetic, Pozo.
AS Roma:
De Sanctis (Lobont 65); Florenzi (Maicon 46), Manolas (Yanga-Mbiwa 46), Romagnoli (Leandro 46), Torosidis (Keita 46); Pjanic (Doumbia 65), De Rossi Cole 46), Uçan (Ljajic 46); Iturbe (Falque 46), Totti (Destro 46), Gervinho (Nainggolan 46).
Unused subs:
Alin, Anocic, Capradossi, De Silva, Di Livio, Ibarbo, Machin, Maksimovic, Sanabria, Strootman, Svedkauskas.
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