Manchester City beat United on penalties to win Community Shield

Manchester City have won the Community Shield for the first time in five years after defeating Manchester United on penalties.

Substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Bernardo Silva traded late goals in a generally forgettable encounter but it was fitting that a shootout was the deciding metric. Sudden death was required with City taking the glory when Jonny Evans meekly chipped over before Manuel Akanji converted.

Fewer than three months after United’s surprise FA Cup final victory, one that ultimately kept Erik ten Hag in the job, Wembley presented a humid backdrop for another Manchester derby at a tempo that confirmed this match’s status as a friendly rather than major trophy. Unlike in May, City started brighter, Oscar Bobb providing the ignition from the right, happily looking for gaps to dribble through and allay fears around Julián Álvarez’s imminent departure as the Norwegian offered evidence that Guardiola has plenty in his arsenal.

City’s best work was coming from the flanks while United failed to match the tempo. A mistake at the back from Lisandro Martínez when his sideways pass to Jonny Evans went straight to Bobb who laid the ball inside to James McAtee but the academy graduate’s curling shot found the inside of the post rather than the net. United were looking sluggish, a trait that caused them numerous problems last season.

It was a day for wingers to express themselves under the clouds while the midfielder felt like a barren land. Having spent half an hour witnessing the danger caused by Jeremy Doku and Bobb, Amad Diallo decided to find a route through the City maze, reaching the box after the odd drop of the shoulder and tapping of the feet. A one-two with Casemiro should have ended with a goal but Diallo decided to play the ball into Mason Mount to tap home but the England midfielder failed to make the necessary two steps forward and City survived.

Finally Wembley erupted in the 54th minute when Bruno Fernandes latched on to a through ball, took a couple of touches and curled the ball home over Ederson from 20 yards. Sadly for the Portuguese and those in the red half of Wembley, he was offside when he started his run and a truly spectacular goal was ruled out. There was another cheer soon after when a young spectator ran on to greet Marcus Rashford before being escorted away by a steward.

Proceedings were becoming increasingly sedate until a rapid move up the pitch from United saw Fernandes find Garnacho in space down the right, allowing him to pick out Rashford who had only Ederson in his way but hit the post to push the match one step closer to penalties. The English forward looked short on confidence throughout, still pondering his ineffectiveness last season. Despite the miss it was an indication that United were on top, providing the greater energy to get things done in normal time.

Garnacho decided to do the business himself in the end, cutting in from the right and firing into the bottom corner with his left foot. It was a moment of class from a player who turned 20 over the summer, celebrating with a Copa América win.

Not to be outdone, Savinho and Bobb combined with two minutes to go on the right. The Norwegian swivelled and chipped to the back post where Silva was waiting to head home, guaranteeing the match would be settled from 12 yards.

Silva was less clinical in the shootout, allowing André Onana an easy save to his left but Ederson ensured things were level after five each, saving from Jadon Sancho and scoring his own. Sudden death saw great composure until Evans sent the ball well over the bar, allowing Akanji to settle things.