Manchester City avenged their FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United as Pep Guardiola’s side triumphed 7-6 on penalties after the Community Shield had finished level at Wembley.
Bernardo Silva levelled for the Blues in the final minute but then had City’s first spot-kick saved by Andre Onana to give United the advantage.
However, Ederson saved Jadon Sancho’s effort before veteran defender Jonny Evans fired over, allowing Manuel Akanji to secure victory in this competition for the first time since 2019 in front of 78,416.
Alejandro Garnacho thought he had given United victory nine minutes from time when he collected possession at the end of a flowing move deep into the City half, instigated by skipper Bruno Fernandes, and then drove a low shot into the bottom corner.
Silva’s initial bad-tempered response to that was to barge into Garnacho long after he had moved the ball on to earn himself a booking.
The Portuguese’s next intervention was far more positive. As young Norwegian Oscar Bobb was spinning into space by the goal-line, Silva was pulling onto makeshift left-back Facundo Pellistri at the far post. Hardly the tallest, Silva had enough spring and intuition to climb above the Uruguayan and head in the equaliser at the far post.
It set up a climax that triggered elation in the City ranks and disappointment among the United support, many of whom left well before the trophy presentation.
The thrilling ending was hardly in keeping with a sometimes stodgy occasion as both sides struggled to reach their highest levels.
Both sides hit the post. James McAtee did so in the first half when he seized on a wayward Lisandro Martinez pass. Marcus Rashford did the same in the second, when he sent Garnacho’s low cross against the base of the post with only Ederson to beat.
Rashford form still a concern
Interim England boss Lee Carsley, who left his position as under-18s coach in City’s academy in 2017, watched on from the Royal Box after it was confirmed by the FA he would be in charge for at least the two Nations League games against Republic of Ireland and Finland next month, and probably for the rest of the year.
One of his first decisions will be whether to recall Rashford, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad after scoring just eight times last season.
It does appear even manager Erik ten Hag is not quite sure how to get the best out of the 26-year-old.
Less than a week after saying he felt Rashford was better suited to a wide role, he elected to play him through the centre of his attack rather than hand £36.5m new signing Joshua Zirkzee his debut.
That Rashford then failed to take the glorious chance provided by Garnacho was a worry. The striker himself seemed genuinely perplexed at how he had failed to take the opportunity.
Rashford might have created a goal for Scott McTominay when he sent a far-post header bouncing into the six-yard area which the Scot failed to make contact with as the goal was at his mercy.
With a far stronger starting line-up on paper, the outcome was not a positive one for United and possibly underlines why they are looking to Bayern Munich to strengthen their defence in the form of Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt and Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui.
