Bernardo Silva scored a crucial late goal for Manchester City to secure a dramatic win over Manchester United in the Community Shield, triumphing in a penalty shootout. The Red Devils had stunned the Premier League champions by winning the FA Cup at the end of last season, but this was not another fairytale for them at Wembley.
City started strong, but United fought back and created some good chances, with Alejandro Garnacho scoring in the 82nd minute to level the game. It seemed like it was going United’s way, but Bernardo Silva had other ideas. Coming off the bench in the final minutes, he nodded in a cross from Oscar Bobb to equalize with just two minutes left on the clock.
The match went straight to penalties, with Silva missing his spot-kick for City, but Jadon Sancho and Jonny Evans failing to convert immediately, and Manuel Akanji scoring the decisive goal to give Pep Guardiola’s side a 7-6 victory.
Player Ratings:
Manchester City:
– Ederson: 8/10 – Scored a goal and made crucial saves.
– Joao Cancelo: 5/10 – Struggled defensively.
– Ruben Dias: 6/10 – Solid performance despite a facial injury.
– Manuel Akanji: 6/10 – Scored the winning penalty.
– Rico Lewis: 7/10 – Impressive performance, dynamic on the field.
– Mateo Kovacic: 6/10 – Played the full 90 minutes but lacked control in midfield.
– James McAtee: 5/10 – Missed a good chance early in the game.
– Nico O’Reilly: 5/10 – Failed to make an impact in midfield.
– Jeremy Doku: 7/10 – Always a threat, caused problems for United.
– Erling Haaland: 5/10 – Quiet game but converted his penalty.
– Oscar Bobb: 8/10 – Impressive on the right wing, provided the assist for Silva’s goal.
Substitutes:
– Savinho: 6/10 – Scored in the shootout.
– Matheus Nunes: 6/10 – Converted his penalty.
– Bernardo Silva: 6/10 – Scored the late equalizer.
– Nathan Ake: Limited impact.
– Kevin De Bruyne: Scored his penalty.
Manchester United:
– Andre Onana: 7/10 – Made important saves.
– Diogo Dalot: 6/10 – Scored a goal but struggled defensively.
– Jonny Evans: 5/10 – Missed a crucial penalty.
– Harry Maguire: 6/10 – Battled well in defense.
– Lisandro Martinez: 5/10 – Had a tough time against Bobb.
– Kobbie Mainoo: 5/10 – Solid but unspectacular in midfield.
– Casemiro: 7/10 – Involved in key moments, scored a goal.
– Marcus Rashford: 5/10 – Missed two good chances.
– Mason Mount: 4/10 – Played out of position, ineffective.
– Amad Diallo: 8/10 – Threatening on the wing.
– Bruno Fernandes: 8/10 – Scored a disallowed goal, looked sharp.
Substitutes:
– Facundo Pellistri: 4/10 – Limited impact.
– Scott McTominay: 5/10 – Missed a great chance.
– Alejandro Garnacho: 9/10 – Scored the late winner and converted his penalty.
– Toby Collyer: 4/10 – Had little impact.
– Jadon Sancho: Limited involvement.
In conclusion, Bernardo Silva’s late goal was the decisive moment in a thrilling Community Shield clash between Manchester City and Manchester United. Both teams showed promise, with standout performances from players like Ederson, Rico Lewis, and Amad Diallo. The match was a testament to the competitive spirit of both clubs, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.