AS Roma, who will play FC Barcelona in this year’s Joan Gamper Trophy lost on penalties to Manchester City on Tuesday after the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia ended 2-2.
The Premiership side took the lead after just three minutes through their high-profile new signing from Liverpool, Raheem Sterling, but Pjanic got the Italians back on level terms just five minutes later.
Straight after the sides returned from their half-time break, young Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho put City back in command and they were heading for a 2-1 win when, with just three minutes remaining, Ljajic converted a fine free kick to send the game into penalties. Man City went on to claim the match 5-4 on penalties, with Horsfield putting away the decisive kick.
This was the second game for AS Roma in the International Champions Cup after they had previously beaten Real Madrid in another game that went to penalties. They have one more fixture, against Sporting Lisbon before coming to the Camp Nou on August 5 for the 50th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy.
