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Man City Beats Man United On Penalties To Win Community Shield
Manchester City emerged victorious in the first-ever Manchester Derby decided by penalty shootout.
This match, held at Wembley Stadium, marked a significant moment for Pep Guardiola’s men, as they not only ended a frustrating run of three consecutive losses in the Community Shield.
City also secured their seventh triumph in this prestigious competition, with three of those victories coming under Guardiola’s management.
Manchester Derby clash
The 2024 Community Shield pitted last season’s FA Cup finalists against each other, an occurrence that has only happened eight times in the tournament’s history. With Manchester United fresh off their FA Cup victory in May, manager Erik ten Hag was keen to kick off his third campaign at the helm with another win against their local rivals.
The match had all the makings of a classic derby, and it did not disappoint.
From the start, City displays a blend of youthful exuberance, dominating possession early on. The City youngsters, particularly Oscar Bobb, were a constant threat to the United defense. Bobb nearly opened the scoring midway through the first half, cutting in from the right and unleashing a shot that sailed over the bar.
Just moments later, he capitalized on a defensive mix-up from United, feeding James McAtee, whose curling shot struck the post, leaving City fans on the edge of their seats.
United’s Response
It wasn’t until the 27th minute that United began to pose a threat. Amad Diallo picked up the ball on the right flank, drifting into the box but ultimately shooting off-target.
As the first half progressed, United began to find their rhythm, finishing strongly with Marcus Rashford coming close to scoring.
After a well-executed team move, Rashford curled an effort just wide of the far post, leaving the team level at halftime.
A Second Half of Surprises
Neither manager opted for changes at the break, and United appeared more comfortable following the restart.
Just eight minutes into the second half, they thought they had taken the lead when Lisandro Martínez sent Bruno Fernandes through on goal. The United captain executed a sublime finish from outside the box, only to be denied by a delayed offside flag that left the United in disbelief.
As the second half unfolded, the match became increasingly frantic. Both teams exchanged chances, with City’s defense holding firm against a reenergized United attack.
Rashford was particularly dangerous, coming close to scoring after being set up by the dynamic Alejandro Garnacho, only to see his shot strike the woodwork.
Late Drama and a Penalty Shootout
The match reached a peak in the 82nd minute when Garnacho finally broke the deadlock. After drifting into the box, he slid the ball past City’s Ederson, sending United fans into a frenzy.
However, the drama was far from over. In the dying moments of the match, Bernardo Silva emerged as the hero for City, rising to meet a cross and heading the ball into the net in the 89th minute, sending the match into a penalty shootout.
The tension was high as both teams stepped up for the shootout. After seven penalties each, the score was level, and the pressure mounted.
Jonny Evans, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, lifted his penalty over the bar, giving City the advantage. Manuel Akanji stepped up next and coolly slotted his penalty home, sealing the victory for City and ending their six-year wait for a Community Shield triumph.
