Manchester City clinched the Community Shield for the first time in four attempts with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Manchester United.
Despite James McAtee hitting the post in the first half and a lack of service for Erling Haaland throughout the match, City fought hard. Alejandro Garnacho’s late goal for United was swiftly answered by Oscar Bobb setting up Bernardo Silva for an even later equaliser. Manu Akanji then scored the decisive penalty as City triumphed 7-6 in the shootout.
Savinho made his debut for City in the second half, and Bernardo Silva along with Matheus Nunes were also brought on as City gears up to defend their Premier League title. Here’s how the players fared:
Ederson: Had a shaky moment when he dropped an easy catch but did enough to pressure Rashford in the second half. Rating: 6
Lewis: Showed his attacking prowess by pushing into the No.8 spaces and making runs into the box. Rating: 7
Akanji: Provided solid defensive work and scored the winning penalty. Rating: 6
Dias: Struggled with some inaccurate passes and was caught out on the goal. Rating: 5
Gvardiol: Mixed some effective adventurous passes with risky ones that put his team in trouble. Rating: 5
Kovacic: Impressive with his dynamic runs and comfort in the Rodri role. Rating: 7
O’Reilly: Had difficulty settling into the game, often appearing a step behind. Rating: 6
McAtee: Delivered moments of brilliance, including setting up a chance and hitting the post. Rating: 7
Bobb: Continued his strong form with effective dribbling and a crucial assist. Rating: 8
Doku: Displayed skillful dribbling but struggled with shooting and final ball accuracy. Rating: 6
Haaland: His notable moment was a clash with Harry Maguire; otherwise, his impact was limited due to a lack of supply. Rating: 6
Substitutes:
Savinho (for Doku, 64): Showed confidence on the ball in his debut. Rating: 6
Nunes (for O’Reilly, 64): Made a promising run into the box that troubled United. Rating: 6
Silva (for McAtee, 80): Scored the equaliser with a well-placed header but missed in the shootout. Rating: 7
De Bruyne (for Bobb, 90) and Ake (for Gvardiol, 90): Were not notably involved.
Not used: Ortega, Carson, Kabore, Phillips
