Manchester City edged a penalty shootout in opposition to Sevilla on Wednesday evening to safe their first ever UEFA Super Cup, following a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes.
Youssef En-Nesyri handed Sevilla the lead within the first half, earlier than Cole Palmer equalised for a City facet properly shy of their finest with simply over an hour gone. With no extra-time, either side have been flawless over the primary 9 penalties within the shootout till Nemanja Gudelj struck the bar with the tenth.
On a sweltering evening within the Athenian port of Piraeus, each groups discovered it tough to search out any dynamism, glad to knock the ball about somewhat than actually bust a intestine to get forward.
Palmer had a few early possibilities for City, whereas Yassine Bounou needed to be alert to push a Jack Grealish shot to security. Sevilla had made the brighter begin within the opening minutes, though it wasn’t till the sport resumed after the primary half drinks break that they made their mark.
Marcos Acuna’s cross from the left was inch-perfect for En-Nesyri to move Sevilla into the lead, rising between Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol in the midst of the penalty space.
En-Nesyri squandered an excellent likelihood to double Sevilla’s lead quickly after half-time, the results of a superb run from Lucas Ocampos skipping previous Kyle Walker. The striker was offered the ball on a plate in entrance of objective, however his end lacked conviction and was straight at Ederson’s legs. En-Nesyri then fired one other shot, albeit from a much less beneficial place, large moments later.
It was an uncharacteristically sloppy interval for City and Sevilla’s Jordan additionally stung Ederson’s palms from a free-kick. The Brazilian was additionally sensible to disclaim En-Nesyri one other opening.
City’s equaliser after an hour was in opposition to the run of play. Rodri’s in-swinging cross from the left appeared as although it was aimed toward Erling Haaland, largely starved of service, nevertheless it was Palmer coming in around the again who related as a substitute to ship the ball throughout objective into the web.
Palmer’s objective gave him confidence and a curling quick was quickly pushed away by Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper saved from Kyle Walker and Grealish as City strain constructed, whereas Ake was pissed off in stoppage time when his bouncing header was tipped over.
Penalty shootout
Man City: Haaland (scored), Alvarez (scored), Kovacic (scored), Grealish (scored), Walker (scored)
Sevilla: Ocampos (scored), Mir (scored), Rakitic (scored), Montiel (scored), Gudelj (missed)
GK: Ederson – 7/10 – Kept City within the tie at 1-0 in a private battle with En-Nesyri.
RB: Kyle Walker (c) – 6/10 – Given nightmares by Ocampos. Made some good forays ahead.
CB: Manuel Akanji – 6/10 – Almost flawless in possession however a difficult evening.
CB: Nathan Ake – 6/10 – Stood no likelihood leaping with En-Nesyri for the opening objective. Went near scoring proper on the finish.
LB: Josko Gvardiol – 5/10 – Could he have completed extra to restrict En-Nesyri’s motion to assist his centre-back, having had a clearer view of the unfolding scenario?
CM: Rodri – 7/10 – Passed and handed and handed. His cross for the equaliser was pleasant.
CM: Mateo Kovacic – 6/10 – Did the fundamentals however not far more.
RM: Cole Palmer – 7/10 – A few early strikes at objective however obtained little change out of Acuna for a strong hour. Took the equaliser properly and grew with confidence after that.
AM: Phil Foden – 5/10 – Disappointingly ineffective.
LM: Jack Grealish – 7/10 – Probably City’s finest supply of creativity in an in any other case stale first half.
ST: Erling Haaland – 5/10 – Saw so little of the ball, simply 15 touches.
Substitutes
SUB: Julian Alvarez (85′ for Palmer) – 6/10
Subs not used: Ortega (GK), Carson (GK), Gomez, Diaz, Lewis, Stones, Laporte, Perrone, Phillips, McAtee, Bobb
Manager
Pep Guardiola – 6/10 – Will count on extra from his facet transferring ahead, though he did not do so much to attempt to change the sport on this one both.
GK: Bounou (7); RB: Navas (7), CB: Bade (7), CB: Gudelj (6), LB: Acuna (7); CM: Jordan (6), CM: Rakitic (6); RM: Ocampos (7), AM: Torres (6), LM: Lamela (7); ST: En-Nesyri (7)
Subs: Juanlu (6), Montiel (6), Suso (n/a), Mir (n/a)
Subs not used: Dmitrovic (GK), Salas, Gattoni, Pedrosa, Bueno, Sow, Corona, Gomez
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