Manchester City Triumphs Over United in Community Shield
Manchester City avenged their FA Cup final humiliation to Manchester United by winning the Community Shield 7-6 on penalties on Saturday, following a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
The game came to life in the closing ten minutes, with Alejandro Garnacho giving United the lead until Bernardo Silva equalised in the 89th minute.
Pep Guardiola’s side then won a long shootout after Jadon Sancho and Jonny Evans failed to strike for United.
City has won the Premier League for a record four straight seasons, but this is the first time they have won the season opener after losing to Leicester, Liverpool, and Arsenal in the previous three years.
The English champions were badly disadvantaged by the absence of several key players due to their delayed return to pre-season after competing in Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
City’s England trio of Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Phil Foden, as well as Spain midfielder Rodri, are yet to return to training after reaching the Euro 2024 final.
In contrast, United manager Erik ten Hag demonstrated his desire to win further trophies by putting teenager Kobbie Mainoo right back into the action following his starring appearance for England in Germany.Despite leaving Kevin De Bruyne and Silva on the bench, City dominated the game early on, with the electrifying Jeremy Doku wreaking havoc on the left.
James McAtee could be handed his chance to shine this season by Pep Guardiola with Julian Alvarez set to join Atletico Madrid.
And McAtee, who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, was inches away from making his mark with a curling effort that came back off the post midway through the first half.
United Rue missed chances
Ten Hag’s job is widely thought to have been rescued by defeating City in May, and he will feel his team should have gotten the better of their opponents once more.
United were deprived of possession but still managed to produce the most of the opportunities.
Amad Diallo should have gone for the goal himself instead of attempting to square to Bruno Fernandes with the goal gaping as halftime approached.
Fernandes began in an unaccustomed centre-forward role since Rasmus Hojlund was out injured and Joshua Zirkzee lacked match fitness.
The United captain felt he had opened the scoring with a spectacular strike on the hour mark, but it was ruled out for offside.
Garnacho was inserted in the final half-hour, adding pace and invention to the United attack.
The Argentine set up Marcus Rashford, who could only hit the post with Ederson to beat.
Garnacho thought he had won the game on 82 minutes when he jinked inside City’s defence and blasted low into the corner.
However, City fought and tied in the 90th minute when Silva headed in Oscar Bobb’s cross.
The Portuguese midfielder was the first to miss in the shootout, as Andre Onana saved his shot.
Sancho, on the other hand, suffered further penalty woes at Wembley Stadium after missing England’s Euro 2020 final.
Ederson saved his spot-kick excellently and then fired himself to keep City in the game.
Evans blazed over, giving City a chance to win.
And it was a story of redemption for Manuel Akanji, whose saved penalty cost Switzerland in their Euros quarterfinal against England, as the centre-back scored the winner.
AFP
