Manchester City are the 2024 FA Community Shield winners after beating Manchester United 7-6 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in normal time.
It is the first time since City have won the top-flight curtain raiser since beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in 2019 and puts an end to their three-year run of losing in this fixture (2021, 2022 and 2023).
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho looked to have won the Community Shield for Manchester United when he cut inside and fired home a fantastic effort with just eight minutes of normal time left on the clock.
However, that was before fellow substitute Bernardo Silva popped up in the 89th minute to head home Oscar Bobb’s cross some eight minutes after entering the fray.
The Community Shield then went to a penalty shootout for the fourth time in six seasons, with Manuel Akanji capitalising on Jonny Evans’ miss by converting his decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 7-6 and earn Pep Guardiola’s side their first trophy of the 2024/25 season.
While the FA Community Shield may not hold great importance when discussing major honours, it is a match both sides wanted to win.
The incentives were there, a Manchester derby, the top-flight curtain raiser and for Man City, a chance to avenge their FA Cup final defeat against their Manchester rivals some three months ago.
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