Manchester City collected the first piece of silverware of the 2024-25 English season after overcoming rivals Manchester United in a penalty shootout in the Community Shield.
Alejandro Garnacho and Bernardo Silva traded late goals in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Wembley – the setting for United’s FA Cup triumph over City in May – before Jonny Evans scooped the penultimate penalty of a lengthy shootout over the bar.
Manuel Akanji struck the decisive spot-kick to secure the Premier League champions a 7-6 win on penalties. The Swiss defender missed the only penalty in a shootout loss to England in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.
“I let the others shoot first because obviously when you miss a penalty, you don’t go into the next one with that much confidence. I told (City goalkeeper) Ederson I would shoot it down the middle in training, so I did it, and it went in,” Akanji told ITV post-match, according to BBC Sport.
Aside from Evans, the other players who failed with their penalties were City’s Silva and United’s Jadon Sancho.
Manchester United appeared to be on their way to victory when Garnacho impressively skipped inside from the right flank before burying the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot in the 82nd minute. However, Silva equalized in the 89th minute after heading home a cross from the impressive Oscar Bobb.
Extra time isn’t played in the Community Shield, so the match went immediately to penalties when the final whistle sounded.
“To start the season with a title is good. We are really pleased,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
Out of the last 13 campaigns, only one team – Manchester City in 2018-19 – has won the Premier League after hoisting the Community Shield earlier in the season.
