United exposed as City end Community Shield streak

Manchester City win 7-6 on penalties

- RICHARD JOLLY

Manchester City 1 Silva (89)

Manchester United 1 Garnacho (82)

There are times in recent years when it has felt that Manchester City have had an annual ritual. Lose the Community Shield, win the Premier League. Their seasons started in disappointment and ended in glory. But, the runners-up three times in a row have finally got their hands on the silverware they value less than most. City came from behind in the game and then the shootout, showing resilience and a determination to beat Manchester United with a weakened team.

There was a redemptive moment for Manuel Akanji, who scored the winning spot kick in a marathon shootout. He had missed from 12 yards when Switzerland exited Euro 2024 to England but, after seven teammates had stepped up, was called upon to apply the final touch. There was a starring role for Ederson who, with City behind in the shootout, palmed Jadon Sancho’s effort onto the post and then calmly scored himself. There was a remarkably eventful cameo from Bernardo Silva, who equalised in the 89th minute only to then miss City’s first penalty.

Ultimately, however, the decisive error came from Jonny Evans, who skied his spot kick. On the day United agreed a fee with Bayern Munich for Matthijs de Ligt, the veteran may find himself further down the pecking order. He was not signed to take penalties, but then 16 players had to. Besides Akanji and Ederson, Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, the debutant Savinho, Matheus Nunes and Ruben Dias all scored for City.