Manchester City beat Manchester United in the Community Shield on Saturday, in the season’s traditional curtain raiser.
After a low tempo encounter for long spells, late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bernardo Silva ensured it finished 1-1 and forced a penalty shootout at Wembley. Even that went the distance, with each team taking eight spot-kicks, until Jonny Evans’ skied shot ultimately decided the outcome of the afternoon.
Both sides were without key players heading into the game and the international tournaments severely impacted their pre-season preparations. For long spells this very much had the feel of an experimental friendly rather than a fierce derby, with the two teams a little off the pace.
City were sluggish building up from the back and misplaced too many passes into midfield, while the absence of Rodri was undeniable. Wingers Oscar Bobb and Jeremy Doku did have some bright moments down the flanks and both fired off target after cutting inside in the opening half an hour.
James McAtee perhaps should have put the Premier League champions in front in the 24th minute when City pounced on a sloppy Lisandro Martinez pass. Instead, after the ball flick into his path via Bobb, McAtee’s curling effort struck the post.
At the other end, Rashford and Amad went close after well-worked team moves, but they were a rarity in the early stages.
If City had been on top in the first period, it was United who impressed in the second and looked to have taken the lead on 53 minutes, only for Bruno Fernandes’ exquisite curled effort to be ruled offside.
The Portugal international also fired right into the arms of Ederson in the 70th minute - the first official shot on target of the afternoon - before Rashford hit the post with another breakaway chance, one he should have buried in front of the watching Lee Carsely. But, like at Wembley three months ago, City’s inability to stop United’s runs from deep ultimately cost them.
After a relatively mundane start, the final stages were frantic and with eight minutes left Alejandro Garnacho capitalised on the space Josko Gvardiol afforded him in the wide areas. He shimmied inside and with his weaker left foot placed the ball past Ederson.
That looked to have sealed a derby win for United and another Community Shield frustration for City, until Bobb wriggled past Martinez and centred the ball for the diminutive Silva to head in at the back post.
The goal forced penalties. Silva and Jadon Sancho both missed their kicks in the allotted five, which forced sudden death. After each team scored two, Evans stepped up and sent his strike over the bar, before Manuel Akanji coolly slotted home the crucial penalty.
Here’s how we rated the City players...
9. Oscar Bobb- 7 (90)
City's best player in pre-season and Bobb carried that encouraging form into the new campaign. He looked bright, darting down the and causing Lisandro Martinez some defensive problems.
10. Erling Haaland- 4
Struggled to get on the ball in the first half but did drop deeper on a few occasions after the break. While Haaland lacked service he looked some way off full fitness.
11. Jeremy Doku- 7 (off 63)
City's best attacking player, who twice bypassed Diogo Dalot and drove at the United goal. For all his incisive play there was no breakthrough moment from City's no.11, who only returned to training this week. | Getty Images
12. Matheus Nunes- 6 (on 63)
Brought energy after his introduction without making any real impact with the ball. | Getty Images