Raheem Sterling’s penalty miss prompts a completely predictable reaction

Inevitable...

Simon Lloyd

Raheem Sterling’s penalty miss prompts a completely predictable reaction

Yeah, so what if it was an ultimately meaningless preseason friendly… or that Manchester City won the shootout in the end? Having a pop at Raheem Sterling is a bandwagon that few can resist jumping on these days.

After Beijing’s Manchester derby was called off the other day, City finally played their first match of their preseason jaunt to China. Borussia Dortmund, who beat Manchester United comfortably in Shanghai last week, were the opponents for the match in Shenzen.

Having taken a lead through Sergio Aguero…

WATCH: Sergio Aguero gets the first goal of the Pep Guardiola era. More on SS1: https://t.co/Od2f0vNISs https://t.co/rAC8aCFl01

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 28, 2016

City were pegged back by a Christian Pulisic equaliser at the death, sending the game to a penalty shootout.

WATCH: Dortmund score a late, late equaliser. Pulisic with the strike. Reaction on SS1: https://t.co/Od2f0vNISs https://t.co/iTCaZC3155

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 28, 2016

Although City went on to win it, Sterling – who took his fair share of flak for his performances in an England shirt earlier this summer – failed with his spot kick, with the Dortmund keeper making a save. Predictably, this opened the floodgates for another round of Sterling mockery.

Yet again, the fee that City stumped up for Sterling when he moved to the club from Liverpool last summer was a prominent theme…

I won't slate the highly rated €49m Golden Boy winner Raheem Sterling for missing his penalty in a zero pressure friendly match.

— johan (@tictacjoeee) July 28, 2016

https://twitter.com/LaideKun/status/758662525923815424

Sport Headlines tomorrow: "Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund on Penalty's but Raheem Sterling missed his Penalty"

— Prince of Egypt (@AttractiveLucas) July 28, 2016

Ian Ayre should get a knighthood for getting @ManCity to pay £50mill for Raheem Sterling #LFC

— 🇪🇸 Andy Forbes (@Forbesy602) July 28, 2016

https://twitter.com/DamenBramwell/status/758662031046168576

Raheem Sterling is about as much use as a glass cricket bat.

— Roger the Butler (@DTM4888) July 28, 2016

It's actually incredible that Raheem Sterling still struggles to make solid contact with the ball when shooting

— Aidan Small (@MrAidanSmall) July 28, 2016

But as we’ve already mentioned, City prevailed. Sterling’s missed penalty presented Dortmund with a chance to win it. Not only did they miss that one, but goalkeeper Angus Gunn was equal to their next one, too.