Iheanacho scores masterclass goal
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| Pix Man City |
A finishing masterclass goal from Flying Eagles star, Kelechi Iheanacho, debut goal for Raheem Sterling and even a stunning strike from Joe Hart in the penalty shoot out - City's International Champions Cup win over Roma had it all.
Naijasportsxtra.blogspot.com gathered from the match reported on the Citizen's website that, 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 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 in the shoot-out.
The 5-4 spot-kicks win was just reward for a City performance full of verve and enterprise in front of 41,134 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The game was played with the freedom pre-season affords, with starlets Iheanacho, Manu Garcia, Brandon Barker and Rony Lopes all playing with the unmistakable exuberance of youth.
David Silva, too, stepped back into first team action with seamless brilliance and the early interplay between the Spaniard, Sterling and Iheanacho had the Serie A side chasing shadows.
It took Sterling just moments to get off the mark on his bow, latching onto Kelechi's pinpoint through ball to finish coolly past Morgan De Sanctis.
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.
City responded quickly, prompted by Silva, while Bruno Zuculini was putting in some valuable defensive work in defensive midfield.
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 combinining 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.
