Twitter Reacts to Joe Hart's Heroics and Sterling's Debut in Man City vs. Roma

On a chilly Tuesday evening at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Manchester City played the third match of their Australian pre-season tour, taking on Roma as part of the International Champions Cup. The venue will host almost 100,000 fans when the Citizens take on Real Madrid Friday evening, but plenty of folks on Twitter observed that this match didn't have quite the same draw: 

"

Money cannot buy you fans > The Difference when Man City and Liverpool play on the same stadium.... pic.twitter.com/YbDMP0ICLJ

— MostarLFC (@MostarLFC) July 21, 2015"

Despite the lack of bums on seats, the game threw up some brilliant goals, a memorable penalty shootout and a notable debut from City's recent £49 million acquisition. A matter of seconds into his first outing in a blue shirt, Raheem Sterling took his first touch—and probably wished the ground would swallow him: 

"

Sterling fell over on his debut, really worth £49 million   pic.twitter.com/Kma7WQyh2D

— Billie (@Billie_T) July 21, 2015"

"

Just watched Sterling trip over the ball. Night made #ICC2015

— Benjamin Tosi (@BenjaminNTosi) July 21, 2015"

However, the 20-year-old soon made amends for his first touch by scoring a few minutes later with his second touch:

"

When Rodgers finds out Sterling has already scored for Man City pic.twitter.com/o5qelUQcuW

— Copa90 (@Copa90) July 21, 2015"

"

#ThatMomentWhen Raheem Sterling scores 3 minutes into his Manchester City debut. pic.twitter.com/hjrHQ5gfUY

— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) July 21, 2015"

Five minutes after Sterling's sterling effort, Miralem Pjanic evened things up with a lovely long-ranger:

Eighteen-year-old City striker Kelechi Iheanacho was given a rare start by Manuel Pellegrini, and repaid the gaffer's faith by assisting Sterling's opener and scoring one of his own in the 51st minute. Twitter was excited by the Nigerian's performance:

"

Brilliant stuff from young star Kelechi Iheanacho (AGAIN). This guy's quality doesn't even surprise me anymore! What a player!

— MCFC Info (@MCFClnfo) July 21, 2015"

The reaction to Iheanacho's goal, however, was overshadowed by the mockery of Ashley Cole, who unintentionally assisted with a disastrous back-pass:

"

Surely Ashley Cole MOTM?

— John Solano (@Solano_56) July 21, 2015"

With a few minutes of normal time remaining, Adem Ljajic evened things up for the Giallorossi with a lovely free-kick: 

"

Ljajic's free kick go against Manchester City! What a beauty!! #Roma pic.twitter.com/yFpPF9Gd4f

— Marco Messina (@Marcocalcio22) July 21, 2015"

That well-taken dead ball brought the game straight to penalties, during which Ljajic showed his class—while showing up City keeper Joe Hart:

"

Do you want some salt on them chips Joe Hart? https://t.co/sVlpZayVBp

— JonDanagan (@JonDanagan) July 21, 2015"

"

Joe Hart must be tired of getting panenka'd!! First Pirlo now Roma's Ljalic ⚽️

— PAPI (@DerrickOtim) July 21, 2015"

After being beaten twice by Ljajic in a matter of minutes, Hart decided to change the narrative and take the game into his own hands. He stepped up to take City's fourth penalty and keep them in the game:

"

If Joe Hart isn't chosen to take a penalty for England after that the world has gone mad ⚽️

— Martin Kitching (@MartinKitching) July 21, 2015"

Then, Hart received Panenka vindication by superbly saving Seydou Doumbia's effort:

Hart put the icing on the cake of an epic shootout performance to save his second consecutive penalty, which was an effort from Seydou Keita. The City shot-stopper managed to get inside the Malian's head by telling him he knew where the penalty would be placed. And he did know: 

James Horsfield then put away the winning penalty for City, but it was Hart who won the game—and the hearts of the masses on Twitter: 

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