By the end of August few will remember much about the Community Shield but Manchester City enjoyed winning this curtain-raiser. They lost the FA Cup final to United in May but fought back late on and kept calmest from the spot.
Two substitutes – Alejandro Garnacho and Bernardo Silva – traded late goals in a 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. City lost a shootout against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals in April, so success on Saturday will be a positive experience, which is what friendlies are for.
Eleven weeks after United’s surprise victory, one that ultimately kept Erik ten Hag in the job, Wembley presented a humid backdrop for another 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 Pep Guardiola has plenty in his arsenal.
There was the essence of a learning process for Guardiola as he started 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly after an impressive pre-season tour. He looked confident in possession but his decision-making, understandably, was not that of a first-teamer, something he will improve. Savinho, their solitary summer signing, provided a positive cameo late on to add to an encouraging display from City’s wingers. Jérémy Doku and Bobb, the latter creating the equaliser, were the main threats for a somewhat second-string three behind Erling Haaland. The third attacking midfielder, James McAtee, should have opened the scoring after City pounced on an error at the back but he found the inside of the post rather than the net.
City were on top for the opening half hour before United finally found some thrust through Amad Diallo on the right. The Ivorian navigated a route through the City maze, reaching the box after the odd drop of the shoulder. 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 midfielder failed to make the necessary two steps forward and City survived.
Finally the stadium erupted in the 54th minute when Bruno Fernandes latched on to a through-ball, took a couple of touches and curled the ball home 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 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 90 minutes.
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 in July, celebrating it with a Copa América win.
Not to be outdone, Savinho and Bobb combined with two minutes to go. The latter 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, who missed in the Euros against England, to settle things and earn some degree of redemption.
