Raheem Sterling has scored on his Manchester City debut during the first half of the team's pre-season friendly with Roma in Melbourne.

City took the lead with just three minutes on the clock when Sterling broke free of the Roma defence before calmly slotting past Morgan De Sanctis.

However, the Italians drew level five minutes later as Miralem Pjanic beat Wilfredo Caballero with a powerful drive from 25 yards that flew into the top corner.

Chances continued to arrive during the remainder of what was an entertaining opening half, with David Silva and Kelechi Iheanacho both being denied by De Sanctis.

The lively Iheanacho came close to giving Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead on 34 minutes when he jumped highest to meet a cross from Silva, but De Sanctis was alert to the danger again and parried the ball away.

Roma enjoyed a strong finish to the half after struggling to create opportunities in front of goal, but they failed to grab their second goal of the game. The closest that they came was from a corner, but Daniele De Rossi could not keep his header down.