Sterling struts his stuff in man-of-the-match Manchester City debut

Raheem Sterling' s Manchester City career got off to an encouraging start on Tuesday, as the 20-year-old scored inside of three minutes in his new club's 5-4 win on penalties over Roma.

The friendly, played as part of the International Champions Cup (ICC) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), finished in a 2-2 draw in regular time, with Roma twice coming from a goal behind courtesy of two sumptuous strikes from outside the box.

But it was City's prized summer signing, Sterling, who entertained the respectable 41,134-crowd in the game's early stages.

The English international - who completed his record 76 million U.S dollar move to City from Liverpool last week - turned in a man-of-the-match performance on debut.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Sterling as he registered a regrettable, but unforgettable, first possession in Sky Blue.

The pacey winger looked to attack Roma's defence down the left channel with his first touch at his new club, before he comically slipped over the ball trying to go past his marker.

However, Sterling quickly brushed off the MCG crowd's jeers to grab City an early lead in the third minute.

Sterling neatly tucked the ball under Roma keeper Morgan De Sanctis after receiving a lovely lofted through-ball from Kelechi Iheanacho, another City rising star.

But the Sky Blues' advantage was short-lived as Roma's long-shot specialist Miralem Pjanic stuck a scorcher home from 25 yards five minutes later.

The ball was played centrally to the midfielder well outside the box and the Bosnian did not hesitate to shoot, powering his shot into the top right of the net.

Early goals to either team dispelled fears that the MCG crowd may be set for another let-down 'blockbuster', after the tournament's anti-climatic nil-all opener on Saturday between Real Madrid and Roma.

Later in the first half, Sterling continued to menace Roma' s defence as his side pressed to recapture the lead.

Australian referee Jarred Gillet denied Sterling a clear penalty on 23 minutes.

Sterling, who became the most expensive English player transfer in football history following his switch last week, was brought down in the area after some smart footwork fooled Roma' s Alessandro Florenzi.

Roma had several chances to take a lead of their own after Pjanic's equaliser - Daniele De Rossi missed the easiest of the lot in the form of a free header that he sent sailing well over the bar.

In his brief 45 minutes on the pitch, Sterling gelled well with Spanish playmaking duo David Silva and Jesus Navas.

By half time, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini had seen more than enough from the explosive winger, opting to rest him for the second half.

"He just played 45 minutes, he's worked with our team just a few days ... so I'm happy in the way he played," Pellegrini said.

"He demonstrated why he's here (at Manchester City) ... he's also a very young player.

"I think that he will improve a lot in the future playing with Yaya (Toure), David Silva and Kun Aguero."

Pelligrini and Roma manager Rudi Garcia conducted sweeping changes after the break with only a handful of starters remaining on the field.

A dreadful back pass from Roma fullback Ashley Cole, on 51 minutes, gifted City the lead again not long after the break.

Iheanacho pounced on the misdirected ball, which seemed to come of Cole's shin, and coolly stroked the ball past De Sanctis from close range.

Garcia told press after the game that he suspected the MCG's substandard surface was to blame for Cole's blunder.

Serbian Adem Ljajic forced the shootout five minutes out from stoppage time with a dipping free kick from just outside the box.

The set piece opportunity came after Yaya Toure thrust a leg out to bring down Roma striker Seydou Doumbia as he looked to shoot.

Toure had the opportunity to make amends for his careless challenge that lead to the opposition's set-piece goal late in stoppage time, as the ball fell to him following successive blocked shots.

However, Toure could not find the back of the net despite the surplus of time and space afforded to him, fizzing the ball well wide of substitute 'keeper Bogdan Lobont' s goal.

Roma was gifted the ascendency in the shootout after City mainstay Aleksander Kolarov sprayed his penalty horribly. However, the Sky Blues rallied thanks to some heroics from its No.1 shot-stopper, Joe Hart.

Hart scored his own penalty, before pulling out consecutive diving saves on Doumbia and Seydou Keita to clinch the win. Endi