Manchester City, the Premier League champions, triumphed over FA Cup winners Manchester United in a thrilling penalty shootout, 7-6, to clinch the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday. The match, which traditionally kicks off the season, ended in a 1-1 draw. Erik ten Hag's Manchester United seemed poised to replicate their FA Cup final upset against City when Alejandro Garnacho scored in the 82nd minute. However, Bernardo Silva of City equalized in the dying moments, forcing the game into penalties. City's Manuel Akanji delivered the winning penalty after Silva's earlier miss in the shootout, while United's Jonny Evans and Jadon Sancho failed to convert their chances.
United had initially taken the lead shortly after halftime through a spectacular long-range strike by captain Bruno Fernandes, which was unfortunately ruled out for offside. Garnacho later broke through the City defense to score, and Silva followed up with a close-range finish from Oscar Bobb's pass, setting the stage for the shootout. This victory marked City's first Community Shield win since 2019, breaking a streak of losses to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Leicester City in recent years.
City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating, "I enjoyed the season against our rival in Manchester and to start the season with a title is good. We are really pleased." He acknowledged the challenges posed by United's transition game but emphasized the team's resilience in controlling the match. Guardiola also highlighted the significance of the Community Shield as a symbol of previous season's success, setting the tone for the upcoming games.
Despite the absence of key players like Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Rodri, Guardiola fielded a lineup featuring four academy players. The young City side quickly took control of possession, capitalizing on United's lackluster performance to create early opportunities, with James McAtee hitting the post.
Ten Hag reflected on the tough loss, saying, "Tough result to take. When the performance is right, when you lose everyone feels this. It hurts in your stomach. You have to feel pain and we have to hurt." He drew positives from the match, noting the team's ability to create chances and apply pressure, setting a foundation for the league campaign.
City will kick off their pursuit of a fifth consecutive Premier League title at Chelsea on August 18, while United will start their season at home against Fulham on Friday.
