Man City defeat United on penalties to win 7th Community Shield

Manchester City have won the FA Community Shield after defeating Manchester United 7-6 on penalties following a 1-1 scoreline after regulation time.

A repeat of last season’s FA Cup final saw goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bernardo Silva send the game into penalties where Manuel Akanji’s spot-kick won it for the City, the reigning English Premier League winners.

The latest win is Man City’s seventh victory in the Community Shield.

It was a game with few chances that both sides failed to make it count. Oscar Bobb hit the bar for Man City, while Man United’s Amad Traore and Marcus Rashford failed to hit the target from promising positions in the first half.

The second period began with Bruno Fernandes’ dipping strike ruled out for offside, while Rashford hit the base of the post with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Garnacho, on as a substitute, eventually broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute, the Argentine winger cut in from the right before placing a low shot into the bottom corner.

Man City responded with two minutes to the end, with Silva heading in at the far post for 1-1 at full-time before Akanji buried his spot-kick to settle the nail-biting shootout.

Man United’s loss gives the Red Devils the unwanted record of the first team to lose ten Community Shield matches.