Manchester City, the reigning champions of the Premier League, emerged victorious in the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday by defeating Manchester United, the winners of the FA Cup, in a thrilling penalty shootout that ended with a score of 7-6.
Despite the traditional season opener finishing as a 1-1 draw, City managed to secure the win in dramatic fashion.
Erik ten Hag’s team seemed poised to replicate their surprising triumph over City in the FA Cup final when Alejandro Garnacho gave United the lead after 82 minutes. However, City’s midfielder Bernardo Silva scored a crucial goal just one minute before full time, ensuring that the match would be decided by penalties.
In the shootout, City’s defender Manuel Akanji stepped up and successfully converted the decisive spot-kick, redeeming Silva who had missed his earlier attempt. Unfortunately for United, their centre back Jonny Evans and winger Jadon Sancho failed to convert their penalties, further solidifying City’s victory.
United believed they had taken the lead shortly after halftime when captain Bruno Fernandes delivered a remarkable finish from distance, beating goalkeeper Ederson. However, their joy was short-lived as the goal was disallowed due to an offside ruling.
As a substitute, Garnacho made a significant impact by breaking through City’s defense and slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Silva then capitalized on Oscar Bobb’s assist from close range, ultimately leading to the game being decided by penalties.
City secured the trophy for the first time since 2019, putting an end to a series of defeats in Community Shield matches. They had previously suffered losses to Arsenal last season, Liverpool in 2022, and Leicester City in 2021.
Speaking to ITV, City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with the victory, saying, “I enjoyed the season against our rival in Manchester, and starting the season with a title is a positive outcome. We are truly pleased.”
Despite losing possession frequently and facing a formidable opponent in transitions, Guardiola’s team managed to prevail. He added, “They are one of the best teams in the world at capitalizing on transitions and can be extremely difficult to control. Nevertheless, we pulled through.”
Guardiola also highlighted the significance of participating in this game, stating, “It’s gratifying to play in this match because it signifies that you have achieved something in the previous season… Our focus now is not just on winning the Premier League; it’s about approaching each game with the intention to win. That’s what we need to do.”
Due to the absence of City’s England players Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and John Stones, as well as Spain midfielder Rodri, Guardiola had to rely on an unconventional lineup that included four academy players as starters.
Despite a slow start, City’s young team managed to dominate possession throughout the game. Their relentless pressure forced a mistake from United, resulting in youngster James McAtee hitting the post with the first chance of the match.
“It’s a tough outcome to accept. When the performance is right, everyone experiences this feeling. It’s a deep, gut-wrenching pain. We must embrace the pain and allow it to motivate us. We need to carry this belief into the league,” Ten Hag expressed to ITV.
“We managed to match Man City’s level… We created opportunities, applied pressure, and had some excellent chances in possession. There are numerous positives to take away from this.”
City will embark on their pursuit of a fifth consecutive Premier League title against Chelsea on August 18th, while United will kick off their campaign at home against Fulham on Friday.
