Manuel Akanji, who was suspended for missing a crucial penalty at the recent European Championships, was delighted to be last on the Manchester City penalty taker list for Saturday’s Community Shield shootout against Manchester United.
So imagine how the Swiss defender felt when he got the chance to score the winning penalty at Wembley Stadium.
“I let other people shoot first,” Akanji said. “Obviously, if you miss a penalty, you can’t be as confident going into the next penalty.”
This time I made no mistake.
After a 1-1 draw in regular time, City won 7-6 on penalties against United to seal the traditional opening game of the English football season between last season’s Premier League winners (City) and FA Cup winners (United).
As Akanji lofted the decisive penalty into the top corner of the net, City players rushed out of the centre circle to celebrate.
Last month, in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, Akanji was left with “a deep sense of emptiness, a deep sense of sadness” after being the only player to miss a penalty in the shootout against England, as Switzerland coach Murat Yakin put it. Akanji then scored Switzerland’s first attempt.
“He missed his chance at the Euros,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “But it was good that he had the personality to take that chance.”
City snapped a three-game losing streak in the Community Shield after losing to Leicester, Liverpool and Arsenal in the last three years, and gained some revenge for their FA Cup final defeat to United 77 days ago. Guardiola’s side lost 2-1 to miss out on a league and cup double.
In the 82nd minute, it looked as though United would secure another Wembley win over their neighbours when second-half substitute Alejandro Garnazzo cut inside and fired a low shot into the near post.
Manchester City equalised in the 89th minute when substitute Bernardo Silva headed in Oscar Babb’s cross.
The match went straight to penalties. There is no extra time in the Community Shield, and Silva’s shot was saved by Andre Onana on City’s first attempt.
Jadon Sancho missed United’s fourth kick as Ederson fired over the bar. The penalty was a heartbreaking one for Sancho, who was one of three England players who lost the shootout to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
United defender Jonny Evans took the team’s eighth penalty and fired over the crossbar, giving Akanji the chance to score for City.
Against England in Düsseldorf, the centre-back shot to the right, which was saved by Jordan Pickford, but this time he fired the ball into the middle.
While United fielded a nearly full-strength team, City were still missing key players following the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England. Rodri, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones were all out, while Kevin De Bruyne started off the bench and came on as a second-half substitute.
“We’re happy to start the season like this and there’s definitely more to come,” said Ruben Dias, who captained City for the game. “It’s another trophy and we always love to collect trophies. We’ve had a long season and we don’t have a full squad yet, but to start like this is very good for us.”
Guardiola has won 18 trophies since joining Manchester City in 2016, including three Community Shields.
The Premier League season begins on Friday when United take on Fulham.
“It’s a pain in the stomach. You have to feel the pain and we have to feel it too,” United manager Erik ten Hag said. “We have to take that belief into the league.”
Associated Press reports.
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