Manchester City, rescued by birthday boy Bernardo Silva, ended three consecutive defeats this Saturday and won their seventh Community Shield, beating Manchester United on penalties (7-6) after a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
At Wembley, the Red Devils took the lead in the 82nd minute through Argentine substitute Alejandro Garnacho and looked set to lift their 22nd trophy but the Portugal international, now 30, equalised with a header in the 89th after joining in the 80th.
In a contest without extra time, it was decided by penalties, with City starting the worse, Bernardo seeing his shot blocked by Onana, but finishing the better as he did not miss again, and Jadon Sancho seeing his shot. Ederson deflected the ball towards the left post and Jonny Evans fired wide.
In addition to Bernardo Silva, four other Portugal players took part in the tie-break: Bruno Fernandes (1-0) and Diogo Dalot (2-0) scored United’s first two goals, while Matheus Nunes (5-5) and ‘captain’ Ruben Dias (6-6) were the second-to-last and second-to-last City players before Akanji wrapped up the final 7-6.
Pep Guardiola’s eleven players have thus avoided a fourth successive defeat in the competition after losing 1-0 to Leicester in 2021, 3-1 to Liverpool in 2022 and 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes with Arsenal in 2023.
For the winners, Ruben Dias played 90 minutes, Matheus Nunes came on in the 63rd and Bernardo Silva in the 80th, while for the losers, Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes were on the pitch for the entire match.
City were the first team to create danger, first through Doc (18′) and then McAtee’s shot into the right post (24′), and United responded through Diallo (31′) and Rashford (36′), with a very dangerous shot into the area.
In the second half, when United were the better side, Bruno Fernandes had a great chance in the 54th minute but his ‘goal’ was eventually ruled out for offside, while Rashford hit the right post in the 75th minute and headed wide from a corner in the 79th.
After several threats, the Red Devils took the lead in the 82nd minute through Garnacho, who moved from the right to the centre and in the centre of the penalty area shot low with his left foot, slotting the ball close to the left post.
The match seemed decided against the ‘harmless’ City, but in the 89th minute Bernardo Silva, introduced in the 80th minute, equalised with a header after a shot from the centre right by Norwegian Oscar Bobb, launched by reinforcement Savinho.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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