WRITTEN BY: ALEX WHITTER
City often has a slow start to the season with Guardiola eluding to that during his pre-season comments about the club's opening fixtures. However, there were glimpses of bright talent from the Academy making appearances for the Champions today and despite nervy performances generally understood their roles and the ethos of the first team.
The game began with controlled passing with youngster Nico O'Reilly at the forefront linking up with Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis.
City's biggest opportunity of the first half came courtesy of a high City press intercepting a poor Lisandro Martinez pass which James McAtee capitalised but struck a curling shot into the post.
United threatened with 2 big chances in the first half cutting open an often disjointed City defence on several occasions.
The second half posed greater issues for the Blues as an offside Bruno Fernandes goal encouraged United to be dominant in possession and cause City problems going forward.
Eventually, United's hard work paid off in the 80th minute as Alejandro Garnacho glided through the City defense and put United in control of the Community Shield.
City needed to respond as it would been a 4th successive loss in the Community Shield if they allowed the Red Devils to get the better of them.
City's big moment finally came courtesy of some excellent footwork from Oscar Bobb who plays a beautiful cross onto the head of substitute Bernardo Silva who puts the Community Shield to penalties.
City are usually never fortunate from spot kicks and it seemed to be the same as Bernardo Silva's penalty was saved by Andre Onana.
City's luck was in as former City flop Jadon Sancho struck the ball into Ederson's hands giving City a lifeline in the shootout.
Ederson's work wasn't done yet though with the brazillian taking the 4th penalty and putting it away in style.
Jonny Evans failed his panenka and left it with one Penalty to score, Manuel Akanji stepped up and scored winning the Charity Shield and redeeming himself after the woes of his penalty kick against England during the euros.