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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Man City 1-1 Man Utd (7-6 pens): Bernardo Silva rescues City before shootout win to end Community Shield curse

Manchester City snatched the Community Shield from the grasp of rivals Manchester United after a late equaliser and penalty shootout win at Wembley.

Alejandro Garnacho thought he won Saturday’s curtain-raiser with an 82nd-minute opener for United, only for Bernardo Silva to head home an even-later leveller.

That meant penalties and City overcame Silva’s opening effort being saved by Andre Onana with seven consecutive successes, which were enough to win them the trophy after failed attempts by Jonny Evans and Jadon Sancho.

The first half was a tale of two halves as Man City dominated early on, culminating in James McAtee hitting the post after 23 minutes following a mix-up between Lisandro Martinez and Evans.

But United soon found joy with free-flowing attacking moves down the centre of the pitch. First, Casemiro linked up with Amad Diallo for a neat one-two which was begging for a finish when the young winger fluffed his attempt to square for Mason Mount to tap home.

Marcus Rashford was then awarded time and space from the left wing after another lovely Casemiro pass, only to tamely shoot wide.

United thought they had finally made the breakthrough after 54 minutes when Bruno Fernandes’ cracker from outside the box nestled in the top corner - although the Portuguese swivelling to check the linesman’s flag was a giveaway that he was offside in the build-up, and so it proved after a late flag was finally raised.

Four Man Utd changes and two from City emphasised this as effectively a pre-season game as the final half hour began with penalties looming and still no shots on target.

Fernandes changed that on 69 minutes after shooting early from a quick ball over the top, but Ederson held it comfortably.

Another swift breakaway should have yielded the opener soon after when substitute Garnacho squared from the right to Rashford, free in the middle, but he could only hit the post.

Rashford then turned provider with a header across goal from a deep corner which Scott McTominay failed to connect with for an easy finish.

A deserved breakthrough came for United in the 82nd minute when Garnacho, who a moment beforehand had shot wide from distance after a wander inwards, delivered another mazy run which this time reached the area for a cute finish into the bottom corner.

Yet, City were not to be denied so easily as Silva came off the bench to head home at the far post from a superb Oscar Bobb cross, which caught makeshift right-back Facundo Pellistri napping.

That led to penalties for Pep Guardiola’s side, who held their nerve with seven successful attempts in a row and Manuel Akanji slammed home the winning effort to end their Community Shield curse - having lost each of the last three curtain-raisers and being on the brink of dropping this one too.

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