Manchester City end losing run in Community Shield
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Manchester City's Ruben Dias celebrating with his teammates after beating Manchester United on penalties to win the Community Shield.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Manchester City ended a run of three consecutive Community Shield defeats with a win over local rivals Manchester United, the record winners of the curtain-raiser, with a 7-6 win on penalties after the match ended 1-1 at Wembley on Aug 10.
English Premier League holders City had never beaten United, the 21-time winners of the fixture, while the FA Cup champions lost in the Community Shield for the first time since another shoot-out defeat against Chelsea in 2009.
City started better and largely bossed the opening 25 minutes, creating two presentable chances.
Oscar Bobb, who had tried to cut the ball back to Erling Haaland in the box two minutes earlier, decided to go it himself in the 22nd minute, wriggling past Jonny Evans and Lisandro Martinez inside the area, but he blazed his shot over.
Fellow youngster James McAtee came even closer three minutes later. Norwegian Bobb, 21, capitalised on a mistake by Evans to set up 21-year-old Englishman McAtee but his curled effort came off the post.
That seemed to wake United up.
In the 31st minute, Diogo Dalot dispossessed Jeremy Doku near the halfway line and set off a lovely team move. It saw Casemiro, Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo exchange passes, before the Ivorian chose to square the ball to Mason Mount when he had only City custodian Ederson to beat.
The pass was just too far forward for Mount, denying a lovely team goal to open United’s season.
Seven minutes before half-time, the Red Devils had another good chance when Casemiro put Rashford through, but his shot went disappointingly wide – meaning neither side had registered a shot on target before the break.
Erik ten Hag’s men had the ball in the back of the net nine minutes into the second half via captain Bruno Fernandes but it was ruled out for offside.
While this was a Manchester Derby, the fact this remains a glorified friendly was clear when ten Hag took off four players at one go on 58 minutes, including arguably his side’s best player on the day in Diallo.
His opposite number Pep Guardiola followed suit just minutes later, with a double substitution of his own.
On 69 minutes, the game got its first shot on target. This time Fernandes timed his run well to stay onside, and his first touch to control Casemiro’s raking long pass forward was excellent, but his shot was straight at Ederson.
The chances continued to flow for United in the second period. In the 75th minute Fernandes’ cute long pass down the right found substitute Alejandro Garnacho who, in turn crossed for Rashford, but his shot hit the bar.
Four minutes later, United almost scored again, when substitute Scott McTominay failed to connect with a Rashford header from a corner.
But United were not to be denied. On 82 minutes, Garnacho found the net from after he drove in from the right and created enough space to send a low shot past Ederson.
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho celebrates after scoring against City.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Despite United’s second-half domination, City equalised one minute from time when Bobb turned away from his marker and sent in a well-placed cross from the right, which substitute Bernardo Silva converted with a rare header to send the match to penalties.
Silva was the only City player to falter from the spot, but misses from United’s Jadon Sancho and Evans spared his blushes.
City centre-back Ruben Dias said on ITV: “It’s very different circumstances to the FA Cup final (which City lost 2-1 to United in May
“The way we played, conceding a goal but then to make it 1-1, I’m very proud of all of us.”
Ten Hag told ITV: “Tough result to take. When the performance is right, when you lose everyone feels this. It hurts in your stomach... We managed to be on an equal level with Man City...
“We created chances, we got pressure in the ball and in possession we had some very good chances from this, so there are many positives we can take.”
Away from the pitch, it was a busy day for United with widespread reports that they have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich to sign centre-back Matthijs de Ligt for €45million (S$65 million) plus €5 million in add-ons.
Bayern have also reportedly accepted a €15 million plus €5 million in bonuses offer for fullback Noussair Mazraoui. But that deal hinges on whether Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaves United. It is understood West Ham United have had a £15 million (S$25.3 million) bid accepted for the right-back.
