City earn Wembley bragging rights over United after shootout win in curtain-raiser

Manchester City are the 2024 FA Community Shield winners after beating Manchester United 7-6 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in normal time.

It is the first time since City have won the top-flight curtain raiser since beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in 2019 and puts an end to their three-year run of losing in this fixture (2021, 2022 and 2023).

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho looked to have won the Community Shield for Manchester United when he cut inside and fired home a fantastic effort with just eight minutes of normal time left on the clock.

However, that was before fellow substitute Bernardo Silva popped up in the 89th minute to head home Oscar Bobb’s cross some eight minutes after entering the fray.

The Community Shield then went to a penalty shootout for the fourth time in six seasons, with Manuel Akanji capitalising on Jonny Evans’ miss by converting his decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 7-6 and earn Pep Guardiola’s side their first trophy of the 2024/25 season.

While the FA Community Shield may not hold great importance when discussing major honours, it is a match both sides wanted to win. The incentives were there, a Manchester derby, the top-flight curtain raiser and for Man City, a chance to avenge their FA Cup final defeat against their Manchester rivals some three months ago. Of course, whether or not City won today wouldn’t have impacted how they would go on to do in the 2024/25 season, after all, City had lost all of the last three Community Shield’s prior to today (2021, 2022 and 2023) and still went on to achieve great success but make no mistake, winning is a habit and Pep Guardiola of all people will believe that and he will certainly be looking at adding more silverware to the cabinet in the 2024/25 season.

The 21-year-old was simply superb today at Wembley for Manchester City. It was the type of confident, assured performance with and without the ball that shows why Pep Guardiola is reportedly willing to put huge faith and trust in the player this season. Bobb only started 2 matches in the Premier League last season (14 apps) but if he continues to perform as he did today, he will be featuring a lot more prominently this season. His assist for Bernardo Silva’s equaliser was a moment of magic and is no less than what he deserved for his display today.

Man City: Ederson 6, Lewis 6, Akanji 7, Dias 6, Gvardiol 7, O’Reilly 6, Kovacic 7, McAtee 6, Bobb 8, Haaland 6, Doku 6 Subs: Savio 7, Nunes 6, Bernardo 7, Ake N/A, De Bruyne N/A

Man United: Onana 6, Martinez 6, Evans 6, Maguire 6, Dalot 6, Casemiro 7, Mainoo 6, Mount 6, Diallo 7, Rashford 6, Fernandes 7. Subs: McTominay 5, Pellistri 6, Collyer 6, Garnacho 7, Sancho 5.

25’ MCATEE CRACKS THE POST – Manchester United are almost punished for giving the ball away near their own goal. James McAtee latched onto Bobb’s pass before curling an effort which rattled off the post. City are getting closer to the lead and United can’t really handle them.

31’ SO CLOSE TO 1-0 FOR UNITED – A lovely sweeping move from Manchester United almost leads to the opening goal! Amad Diallo has a chance to put United ahead but opts to slide the ball across for Mason Mount but puts too much on the pass and Mount could only watch as the ball drifted past him.

54’ BRUNO DENIED BY THE OFFSIDE FLAG – Bruno Fernandes cuts inside on his right foot before curling an absolutely brilliant effort past Ederson and into the back of the net but the flag goes up for offside. A shame for Fernandes as that was a magnificent strike!

75’ RASHFORD STRIKES THE POST! – Manchester United should be ahead! The ball comes across to Rashford and all he has to do is fire it past Ederson but Rashford strikes the post and the game remains 0-0.

82’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (GARNACHO) – Alejandro Garnacho has put United 1-0 up at Wembley. Bruno Fernandes threads the ball out to the right to Garnacho who comes inside past a couple of City defenders before stroking the ball into the bottom corner past Ederson. A brilliant goal.

89’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (BERNARDO SILVA) – Bernardo Silva has equalised for Manchester City! Oscar Bobb fires in a great cross, Bernardo is able to get around Pellistri who should do better before powering a header home past Onana.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT: MANCHESTER CITY 6-6 MANCHESTER UNITED – Jonny Evans skies his penalty and City have a chance to win the Community Shield with their next attempt.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT: MANCHESTER CITY 7-6 MANCHESTER UNITED – Manuel Akanji converts his penalty and City have won the Community Shield!