MANUEL Akanji earned Manchester City Wembley revenge on neighbours United.
The Swiss defender, who failed to convert his penalty in a Euro 2024 shootout against England, made no mistake after United veteran Jonny Evans had sent his kick over the bar.
It was harsh on United, who were set to follow up their FA Cup Final win with another deserved victory over their rivals.
Alejandro Garnacho seemed to have won the game in normal time for the men in red.
After scoring the second goal in the cup final, the Argentinian broke the deadlock with eight minutes left.
But after being second best for an hour, City roused themselves to force a penalty shootout and substitute Bernardo Silva headed an 89th-minute equaliser.
Yet moments later Silva turned from hero to villain when his spotkick, City’s first, was saved by Andre Onana.
The drama increased when Jadon Sancho, who had missed for England in the Euro 2020 final shootout against Italy, saw his effort diverted on to the post by Ederson.
The City goalkeeper himself sent it into sudden death by stroking home his team’s fifth kick.
And after Evans’ miss, Akanji earned his side the first silverware of the new season.
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Pep Guardiola’s side made hard work of it though, and United boss Erik Ten Hag should be encouraged by his team’s performance as they fought back from a poor start.
In a low-key opening, the only moment of note was an off-the-ball collision between Erling Haaland and Harry Maguire, in which the United man came off worse.
But both sides had decent chances to score after the game came to life midway through the first half.
Shortly after Oscar Bobb had fired over the bar, the Norwegian seized on makeshift left-back Lisandro Martinez’s loose pass and teed up James McAtee.
The midfielder who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United curled his shot past Andre Onana but the ball came back off the post.
United had struggled up until that point to have any meaningful possession in the City half.
But the balance swung after Amad Diallo cut in from the right and hit a shot well wide.
Soon afterwards, the Ivorian should have opened the scoring. After a beautiful one-two with Casmiro, the winger bore down on goal at close range.
Yet instead of shooting himself, Amad attempted a square ball to Mason Mount for a tap-in and misjudged his team-mate’s run.
Suddenly, United looked like a coherent football team.
Another lovely move ended with Casemiro rolling the ball into Marcus Rashford’s path, but he was well off target with the attempted Thierry-Henry-style far-post finish.
United had the ball in the net early in the second half, thanks to a lovely curler from Fernandes. But Rashford had been offside in the build-up.
The men in red kept up the pressure, though, and it started to feel a bit like deja vu all over again from the FA Cup Final.
Ten Hag risked losing that momentum with a quadruple change before the hour.
City were struggling for inspiration and it fell to left back Josko Gvardiol to fire a shot wide from distance.
Guardiola made a double change of his own, including the introduction of summer signing Savinho, who immediately looked lively.
At the other end, a ball over the top found Fernandes, but his shot was easily held by Ederson.
Then came Rashford’s big miss. Fernandes’ pass set Garnacho away and his cross was perfect.
But with the goal at his mercy, Rashford went for a first-time shot with his left foot that hit Ederson’s right-hand post.
Moments later Rashford connected well with a header from the corner and Scott McTominay could only manage an airshot when trying to divert the ball goalwards.
But United were not to be denied. WIth City defenders back-pedalling, Garnacho cut inside and tucked a left-foot shot inside the near post.
Just when it seemed that the goal would be enough to deliver victory, Bobb crossed from the right, Facundo Pellistri somehow got under the ball and Silva headed firmly home.
Five minutes of added time failed to deliver a winner, so it was straight to penalties.
Fernandes scored, then Onana saved from Silva.
Diogo Dalot (just), Kevin De Bruyne, Garnacho and Haaland all scored before Sancho’s horrible case of deja vu. Savinho, Casemiro, Ederson, Scot McTominay, Matheus Nunes, Martinez and Ruben Dias all did their duty to take the score to 6-6.
But then poor Evans sent his spotkick well over the bar and Akanji did the business to give City an undeserved win.
More to follow.
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