Man City win Community Shield in thrilling shootout over Man United

Sunday 11 August 2024

FA Community Shield Final 2024

Manchester City Vs Manchester United

Wembley Stadium, London, HA9 0WS, UK

Man City win Community Shield in thrilling shootout over Man United

Manchester City won their 7th Community Shield against Manchester United on penalties in a thrilling encounter.

MATCH PREVIEW:

Once again, it's RED VS BLUE, the Manchester Derby for the 3th time in 2024. The previous 2 encounters have gone to either side. City outclassed United by 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in March, thanks to a Phil Foden masterclass, whereas United won the FA Cup final by scraping past a wasteful City by 2-1 thanks to rising talents in Alejandro Garnacho & Kobbie Mainoo. Now, it's a new season, ahead of the opening game which is 6 days away at Old Trafford for the Red Devils, the Community Shield comes up first. Manchester United have won this competition, 21 times, and will look to increase the pain on their bitter rivals, as both sides, have not had the best of pre-seasons in the USA. Who will kick start the 2024/25 off with a bang? Will it be the reigning FA Cup winners from the Red side of Manchester, or the reigning PL champions from the Blue side of Manchester?

STARTING XI:

Despite the pre-season win over Chelsea, there will be no Phil Foden, Rodri and John Stones until they travel to Stamford Bridge for their PL title defence in 8 days time. New signing, Savio starts on the bench alongside Kevin De Bruyne and birthday boy Bernardo Silva, who turns 30 years old. Academy youngsters Rico Lewis, James McAtee, Nico O'Reilly & Oscar Bobb start along with Doku & Erling Haaland who will lead the line for City.

Starting XI: Ederson, Lewis, Dias (C), Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, McAtee, O'Reilly, Bobb, Haaland, Doku. Formation: (4-3-3)

Substitutes: Ortega, Ake, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Nunes.

As for Manchester United, there is no Rasmus Højlund due to a hamstring injury and new signing Leny Yoro is out with a broken foot, and with summer signing Joshua Zirkzee on the bench, it is Bruno Fernandes who will play the number 9 role. Lisandro Martinez takes over at left-back, with Amad Diallo and Casemiro starting for the Red Devils.

Starting XI: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Evans, Martinez, Mainoo, Casemiro, Diallo, Mount, Rashford, Fernandes (C).

ONES TO WATCH:

James McAtee: He's been superb in the pre-season games in the USA. After 2 loan spells with Sheffield United, he has received so much praise from Pep, will he shine in his first season with Manchester City?

Amad Diallo: He's been United's best player throughout the pre-season games, after a couple of cameo appearances and a couple of starts, can he help United achieve top 4 by the end of the season?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

Bruno Fernandes gets us underway at Wembley as Manchester United kick-off the curtain-raiser game. A very exciting contest this with so many match-ups all around the pitch, this ought to be a game to watch ahead of the first Premier League game of the season. Even though the formation for Man United is a 4-3-3, they are playing a 4-4-2 with two false 9s, in the United skipper and Mason Mount, wonder how Ten Hag's tactics will play against this City team without their star players, who are resting from their EUROS campaign with their respective nations. There's really nothing much to smile about or to enjoy, as both teams traded blows and created chances, but nothing really coming out of it. Two huge chances came for City, but they missed them. First, Bobb's hard work was ruined as he skied his shot over the bar, and James McAtee hitting the post a minute later. Big chance for City to have taken the lead. On the half-hour mark, it was Manchester United's first big chance of the game, but like City, they could not take their chances either, as Casemiro tried to unselfishly square up Mason Mount, but his pass went wayward. Another chance came, but Rashford unfortunately curls his effort over the bar! Big chances for both sides, missed. HALF-TIME AT WEMBLEY STADIUM. Nothing too impressive from both teams, with chances going for both sides and it's been all square with no breakthrough so far.

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

After what has been a quiet 45 minutes, Manchester City kick off the second half. No changes from both teams, as of now. City looking very dangerous with Jérémy Doku causing havoc, but well dealt with by Casemiro. United thought they got the opening goal, only for the offside flag to go up against Bruno Fernandes on 55 minutes. A quadruple substitution for Manchester United on the hour mark. Off come Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire & Mason Mount. On come Scott McTominay, Facundo Pellistri, Alejandro Garnarcho & Toby Collyer. Now, it was City's turn for a double change. New signing Savio & Matheus Nunes are on for Nico O'Reilly & Jérémy Doku. 

A glimpse of Manchester City's new signing as Savinho makes a run with the ball

But the biggest chance fell for Manchester United on 75 minutes. Here's a chance for United as they push on the counterattack. Good pass from Fernandes, he finds Garnacho, AND ONTO RASHFORD!!! MY GOODNESS ME, IT'S COME OFF THE POST!!! WHAT A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY GONE BEGGING FOR THE RED DEVILS! GOODNESS, THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN 1-0! Rashford wastes a huge chance!!

Rashford spurns United's best chance of the second half.

And at last!! Manchester United found the breakthrough on 82 minutes! United continue to apply the pressure as they come forward. GARNACHOOO!!!!! OH YESS!! THE FIRST STRIKE OF THE 2024/25 COMMUNITY SHIELD!! IT IS ALEJANDRO GARNARCHO WHO FIRES THEM AHEAD!! WHAT SCENES HERE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM!! CREDIT TO BRUNO FERNANDES WHO FOUND THE ARGENTINE WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOOT PASS!! WITH 8 MINUTES TO PLAY, IT IS MANCHESTER UNITED WITH THE ADVANTAGE!!

Garnacho celebrates the opener on 82 minutes by recreating his idol's iconic celebration.

Are Manchester City bold enough to answer back with time running out? Truth be told, THEY DID! On 89 minutes the leveller. City on the attack with minutes ticking away. Savio now, looking for Bobb, and he does pick out the young Norwegian, with the cross into the box, AND IT'S INTO THE BACK OF THE NET!!! ABSOLUTE PANDEMONIUM IN WEMBLEY!! IT'S BERNARDO SILVA, WHO SCORES THE LEVELLER!! ON HIS 30TH BIRTHDAY, HE HEADS HOME OSCAR BOBB'S CROSS to LEVEL THE SCORE AND FORCE PENALTIES!!! WHAT A MOMENT IN THE GAME!!

Birthday boy Bernardo Silva scored the leveller on 89 minutes

THE 90 MINUTES ARE COMPLETE!! WE WILL HEAD INTO PENALTIES TO DECIDE THE WINNER OF THE COMMUNITY SHIELD!!

PENALTY SHOOTOUT:

Manchester United to take first.

MUFC Penalty 1: After a tense 90 minutes of football, it all comes down to this!! Man United are to take first. Bruno Fernandes, up he comes, AND NEVER MISSES FROM THE SPOT!! 1-0 TO UNITED!! 

MCFC Penalty 1: The man who scored the leveller, the birthday boy, Bernardo Silva. Was successful for Portugal in the shootout win against Slovenia in the EUROS, BUT HE'S BEEN DENIED BY ANDRE ONANA!! Not a good penalty, straight down the middle and Onana barely had to move to save it!! Advantage Manchester United!

MUFC Penalty 2: Diogo Dalot. HE JUST ABOUT GETS THE PENALTY IN!! DESPITE EDERSON GETTING A HAND, THERE WAS NO STOPPING THAT!! 2-0 to United!

MCFC Penalty 2: Kevin De Bruyne. A QUICK STEP, AND COOLLY TAKEN!! ONANA GOES THE WRONG WAY! And City are still alive, 2-1.

MUFC Penalty 3: Alejandro Garnacho. NEVER IN ANY DOUBT! He converts, and United are almost home! 3-1.

MCFC Penalty 3: Erling Haaland. Onana's mind games happening now, will he fool Haaland? NO, he can't. Haaland does not care! Dispatches the penalty with such ease. Man City are back in it! 3-2.

MUFC Penalty 4: Jadon Sancho. After a great year with Borussia Dortmund, Sancho comes for his penalty. Up he comes, AND SAVED BY EDERSON!! TOUCHED ONTO THE POST BY THE BRAZILIAN! Sancho's Wembley woes continue!!

MCFC Penalty 4: Savinho. Up comes the debutant, and Coolly dispatched!! Sends Onana the wrong way! 3-3

MUFC Penalty 5: Casemiro. Up he comes, and NO FEAR AT ALL! Bravely put away by the ex-Real Madrid midfielder!! 4-3

MCFC Penalty 5: Ederson. Suprisingly, the man who saved Jadon Sancho's penalty, Ederson, he's up to take it. AND HOW GOOD WAS THAT! Finely taken by the 30-year-old! 4-4

MUFC Penalty 6: McTominay. It is getting super tense!! And McTominay scores!! 5-4, we still go on!!

MCFC Penalty 6: Nunes. Up he comes, and INTO THE TOP CORNER IT GOES!! NICELY TAKEN TO LEVEL THE SCORE! 5-5.

MUFC Penalty 7: Lisandro Martinez. Scores the 6th!! Ederson goes the right way, but it's 6-5 to MAN UNITED!

MCFC Penalty 7: Ruben Dias. To level the score! AND HE DOES!! ONANA GOES THE WRONG WAY! AND THE SCORES ARE LEVEL!! 6-6.

MUFC Penalty 8: Jonny Evans. To give them the advantage, AND HE BLAZES OVER!! OH DEAR!! JONNY EVANS HAS MISSED IT! NOW IT'S CITY'S CHANCE TO WIN IT!!

Jonny Evans blazed over his penalty to gift City the advantage

MCFC Penalty 8: Manuel Akanji. He missed his penalty at the EUROS in July, and now, can he win it for City? YESS HE CAN!! TOP CORNER PENALTY AND ONANA DID GO THE RIGHT WAY, BUT TOO LATE!!

AND THAT IS THAT!! MANCHESTER CITY WIN THE COMMUNITY SHIELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 6 YEARS!! Beautiful scenes for the men in blue!!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Oscar Bobb