Manchester City won the Community Shield with a 7-6 penalty shootout victory over Manchester United after a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
Manuel Akanji scored the winning penalty after Jonny Evans sent his shot over the bar, ensuring the champions avoided a second successive defeat at Wembley against the FA Cup winners.
United substitute Alejandro Garnacho appeared to have won it for United in normal time when he latched onto a Bruno Fernandes pass in the 82nd minute, cut inside from the right flank and fired a clinical finish beyond the reach of a full-stretch Ederson.
But City regained their composure and found the equaliser in the penultimate minute of the 90th, when substitute Bernardo Silva beat Facundo Pellistri in the air to force a good header past André Onana after an impressive cross from Oscar Bobb.
Early in a hard-fought match, James McAtee, starting in City’s midfield alongside 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly, hit the post, while Manchester United came agonizingly close to a brilliant team goal when the cross from Amad Diallo he barely escaped. the attacked Fernandes.
United had the biggest lead overall, with a spendthrift Marcus Rashford hitting the woodwork on one of the occasions and Pep Guardiola being seen throwing his water bottle on the ground frustrated by his team’s performance late in the first half.
The City boss was smiling at the end, though, with Akanji’s winning penalty coming after an earlier miss from Silva and, from United, a miss from Jadon Sancho, whose effort was superbly saved by Ederson, as well as Evans.
United will take encouragement from the way they performed, though, and were boosted by news of a deal agreed for Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt shortly before kick-off.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola:
“We may have lost today, but of course I saw a lot of things that I liked.
“The first 35 minutes were more than the time we spent together. Manuel [Akanji] and Rubén [Dias] only played 3 educational sessions.
“We are still far from our most productive point, but that is normal. We won a trophy and that’s good. “
On the performances of James McAtee and Oscar Bobb: “They have the criteria to be here. Especially McAtee. I’ve had him for a long time. He played very well today.
“Oscar, we saw him last season. The most important thing is they have the confidence of the squad. They adore them and they can rely on them.”
On whether Bobb can simply reflect Cole Palmer’s good luck: “It would be wonderful because Cole Palmer’s good luck at Chelsea last season is incredible. He is one of the most productive players in the Premier League.
“It depends. Cole played every single game [last season]. I’m pretty sure if Oscar played a lot of minutes, he might do a lot of smart things. “
On new signing Savinho’s impact from the bench: “He had a good impact. I think when playing left he will help Erling to score goals. Look how we scored [today], byline and cross.
“Always with the wingers, I ask that when you have a good feeling, attack the opponent. You have to do it and he did it really well in the 30-35 minutes he played.”
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said:
“We are disappointed. We have to feel the pain. Everyone feels the pain and that is a good sign. But also, I see some positives. We did well but we couldn’t win the game.”
On Marcus Rashford’s failures: “I think he was in very intelligent positions several times. I am very pleased that he has occupied those positions.
“I know that if he keeps making those movements, and the team make those movements, he will score goals.
“He has enough experience to take care of that. Once he scores a goal, the goals will come. “
On Casemiro’s improved performance: “He has had a pre-season for [the first time in] a long time, so he is in very good shape at the moment.
“I think as a team we work well together, and that makes things less difficult for him, and then he is a smart football player, and he can bring his skills, and then you see that he is vital for the game and for our team. “
On whether he expects Casemiro to remain at the club: “I have no idea or any sign that he will stay and we are very satisfied with that. “
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at Wembley:
Guardiola’s side have had good effects in the Community Shield in recent years, losing the last 3 editions in a row to Leicester, Liverpool and Arsenal respectively.
It seemed they were heading for defeat number four when Garnacho found the bottom corner, giving United what felt like a deserved lead. But City showed their capacity to dig deep.
Bernardo’s equalizer was born of a natural preference when he outplayed Pellistri to respond to Bobb’s cross with emphatic gusto and some other recovery needed in the penalty shootout when the same player failed to convert City’s initial penalty.
Sancho’s failure gave them the chance and this time they took it, with debutant Savinho, goalkeeper Ederson, Matheus Nunes and finally Akanji converting to give City a silver medal as they prepare to protect their Premier League crown .
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at Wembley:
Manchester United will rue their failure to hold onto the lead after Garnacho’s brilliantly-taken opener but this, for the most part, was a positive afternoon for Ten Hag and his players.
As in the FA Cup final played on the same pitch 77 days earlier, they managed to cause serious disruption to the champions, crossing them with complex passes and relying heavily on their young stars.
Kobbie Mainoo, Diallo and Garnacho attracted attention and Toby Collyer, 20, also made an impression on the bench. There were also good performances from the more experienced bosses, with Fernandes excelling and Casemiro a step up from last season at the base of the midfield.
There was no rest for new signing Joshua Zirkzee, who remained as an unused substitute this time around, but the former Bologna striker is expected to follow with more reinforcements as the club look to improve its functionality from last season’s Premier League campaign.
The wait is almost over. Manchester United kick off the new Premier League season at home against Fulham on Friday night on Sky Sports at 8pm.
The match is one of five games on Sky Sports on the opening weekend of the season, adding West Ham-Aston Villa on Saturday Night Football, a Super Sunday header double Brentford-Crystal Palace and Chelsea-Manchester City, before of Leicester-Tottenham. Discover the action of the weekend with Monday Night Football.