Man City beat Sevilla on penalties to win maiden UEFA Super Cup trophy
Pep Guardiola will not be accustomed to letting silverware slip via his fingers no matter its perceived worth within the grander scheme of issues. Just 10 days after lacking out on the possibility to carry the Community Shield at Wembley Manchester City made amends by lifting the UEFA Super Cup in Athens.
After 90 minutes performed out in sweltering 30 diploma temperatures approaching midnight City it took a penalty shootout to separate the perimeters, City successful 5-4, Nemanja Gudelj crashing Sevilla’s fifth spotkick in opposition to the bar. Victory gave City a fourth piece of silverware inside 12 weeks and a fifteenth trophy initially of Guardiola’s eight season in cost.
After per week City by which he has misplaced Kevin de Bruyne for 4 months, this was a lining of kinds. Normal time had seen the 2 locked after Youssef En-Nesyri’s first half header was cancelled out by Cole Palmer’s second-half headed purpose.
Against the run of play it was the La Liga facet who took the lead after 25 minutes, a sweeping transfer from again to entrance getting the ball to Aston Villa-target Marcos Acuna on the left and his centre headed dwelling by Youssef En-Nesryi.
Fingers could possibly be pointed at each of City’s summer season signings, Kovacic didn’t get a foot in within the centr circle as a fast ball ahead was flicked out to the left.
En Nesryi scored twice in opposition to Manchester United of their 3-0 Europa League quarter-final defeat and is a handful however he acquired in entrance of £76million Josko Gvardiol making his first begin too simply.
Sevilla may need doubled their lead had Eric Lamela saved his shot down simply after the half-hour mark. But the La Liga facet ended respiratory a sigh of aid at reaching half-time stage, a teasing Grealish cross eluding everybody on the again submit, Palmer failing to react in time to show it in.
It was a disappointing first half show from Guardiola’s facet. Despite having 74 per cent of the first-half possession they lacked lower via the center.
Erling Haaland had one among his nameless efforts albeit starved of service and Phil Foden, as laborious as he tried to seek out house couldn’t shake off the shadow of Ivan Rakitic.
City’s frustrations have been boiling over each on the pitch. As the gamers sweltered in oppressive 30 diploma warmth approaching midnight right here in Athens, off it goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor was booked for remonstrating.
With the sport opening up and City pushing ahead gaps appeared on the counter. Lucas Ocampos skipped away from Kyle Walker on the left flank and centred just for En Nesryi to fireside too near Ederson.
Minutes later a break down the opposite flank from Jesus Navas noticed Walker redeem himself, stretching to the touch the cross again in direction of Ederson with the Moroccan arriving behind him.
City’s equaliser arrived on 63 minutes and of all of the entrance line it was becoming that it went to Palmer, Rodri floating a ball over Haaland’s head and the younger winger nodding it again and throughout Bono.
It capped a effective evening for the City teenager who may not want a mortgage transfer to see extra first motion could be denied a mortgage transfer. He drained late on however was the Premier League facet’s greatest participant for the 85 minutes he was on.
Bono practically deflected Walker’s cross into Foden’s path batting the ball throughout and out and Sevilla had just a few darting breaks.
Ake practically gained it for City in stoppage time with a diving header on the again submit from Foden’s free kick, Bono reacting effectively to show it over the bar. It proved the final vital second in regular time with the match settled from the spot.