The International Champions Cup brings Manchester City and AS Roma to the hallowed pitch of the MCG. Join The Roar from 7.30pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary.
Rudi Garcia’s Roma outfit will be brimming with confidence following their slender victory over a much fancied Real Madrid side on Saturday night. Penalties were called upon to decide the fixture.
Stars such as captain and fan favourite Francesco Totti, Ivorian winger Gervinho and first team midfielders Daniele De Rossi and Radja Nainggolan all took the pitch against Rafa Benitez’s Madrid in their opening fixture of this much anticipated tournament. Fans of the Giallorossi will be hoping to see a close to full strength line-up fielded by their team in this, their final fixture of their stay Down Under.
Their opponents, Manchester City, got away with a similarly slender victory in their opening fixture in Australia – defeating sister club Melbourne City 1-0 thanks to a sublime Samir Nasri strike just five minutes from full-time on the Gold Coast.
The Citizens could call upon stars such as new £49 million signing Raheem Sterling, Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko and first choice goalkeeper Joe Hart for this fixture, which they will need to take significantly more seriously if they are to achieve a result.
Against Melbourne, midfielders Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas were imperious and their manager Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping they continue this form into this showpiece fixture which could be played in front of as many as 90,000 adoring fans.
Aussie fans will be treated to some of the bigger name players boasted by these two top sides, however they won’t be seeing fan favourite Sergio Agüero or his compatriots Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis. All of which have not travelled with the City squad Down Under thanks to their extended commitments with Argentina at the Copa America.
The players to watch will undoubtedly be Roma’s captain Francesco Totti and City’s Ivorian beast Yaya Toure. Both are unquestionably world class footballers and will provide the fireworks for this fixture.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-2 AS Roma
Join The Roar for live commentary and debate in our blog from 7:30pm (AEST).
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
FULLTIME AT THE MCG City takes it out in penalties as Doumbia had the chance to seal it for Roma, he missed with a silly panenka and City came form behind to win it 5-4. Following a wonderfully exciting 2-2 after 90 minutes with goals to Sterling, Pjanic, Iheanacho and Ljajic. Thanks for joining me for this amazing fixture live from Melbourne. Be sure to tune in for City's clash with Madrid as the winner of the ICC is decided. Have a great night!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Keita up against Hart... to keep Roma in it. The man with the captains armband on misses!! HART SAVES AND CITY WIN IT! Well, a late turnaround and City have come from behind to notch it 5-4. It is set up nicely now for their clash with Real Madrid.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Barker steps up and puts City in front! CITY 5-4 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Doumbia for the win... He attempts the panenka but Joe Hart palms it away!! Wow, ambitious and it doesnt come off. Doumbia looks silly there. CITY 4-4 ROMA BACK ON LEVEL PEGGING
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Joe Hart steps up and absolutely SMASHES his penalty into the net. Massive strike! CITY 4-4 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Iago Falque's strike is touched into the post from Hart but it trickles back into the net! CITY 3-4 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Rony SCORES for City. A lovely effort into the bottom corner from the confident Brazilian. Le Bont guessed the right way but it was too far into the corner. CITY 3-3 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Destro steps up for Roma. And he buries it into the bottom right corner, restoring Roma's lead. CITY 2-3 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Navas steps up for City, and he just beats Le Bont in the bottom right corner. Nearly a good save. CITY 2-2 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Adam Ljajic with a classy PANENKA! Lovely from the Serbian. It takes real composure to do that. Hart unhappy. CITY 1-2 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Kolarov sends his penalty to the moon! A rubbish effort from the Serbian! CITY 1-1 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Nainggolan for Roma. And he sends Hart the wrong way! Popping the ball into the bottom left corner. CITY 1-1 ROMA
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Yaya Toure slots the first penalty down the middle! CITY 1-0 ROMA ON PENALTIES.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
FULLTIME AT THE MCG We finish tied up at 2-2 and that means we're heading to spotkicks! What an exciting match its been. Who will take the spoils? Its up to the keepers now! 2-2
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+2' A chance for City to win it!! Navas surged down the right and whipped it into the centre. It rebounded out to Yaya Toure whose shot from the edge of the area falls wide. 2-2
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+1' We have just one minute remaining of the 2 added minutes before we head into a penalty shootout. 2-2
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90' Nasri pulls the trigger from the edge of the box! Its straight at the keeper though and is saved well by Le Bont. Either side and that would have been the winner! 2-2
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
89' Maicon with a beautiful slaloming run through the centre of the park! However, he shows why he's a fullback, failing to make a meaningful final touch as the ball dribbles to Hart. 2-2
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
A reminder that if the scores are level at full time, we will progress straight to penalties!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
87' A LOVELY FREEKICK FROM LJAJIC AND ITS 2-2 Beautiful finish from Adam Ljajic. The Serbian made no mistake, floating it over the top of the wall and into the back of the net. Marvellous free kick. Take a bow, Adam Ljajic! 2-2