Manchester City beat Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation time.
Manchester City held their nerve to beat Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shootout and win the UEFA Super Cup for the first time in their history after a thrilling game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The first nine spot-kicks in the shootout were all converted on Wednesday but Sevilla defender Nemanja Gudelj hit his penalty against the crossbar to give victory to Man City, who lost on penalties to Arsenal in the Community Shield in England 10 days ago.
It was Manchester City’s 15th trophy won under manager Pep Guardiola’s reign which began in 2016 and overturned Arsenal’s recent loss in the Community Shield.
“The manager made it very clear to us before the game how he wants to win this trophy,” said City midfielder Jack Grealish.
“You want to win everything, but that gives us more motivation. This club has never won it. It’s a great feeling,” he said.
City’s Kyle Walker raised the trophy amid ticker tape and chants of “Champions” by his teammates on the midfield stage.
“It’s very disappointing for us, but I’m proud of my teammates,” Sevilla forward Erik Lamela said after the match. “The team did well, we had a lot of runs against a very good team.”
Youssef En-Nesyri gave Europa League winners Sevilla the lead with a towering header in the 25th minute but Man City equalized through a header from 21-year-old Cole Palmer in 63rd minute.
It was a thrilling match played in sweltering heat and humidity at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens, Greece, as a stubborn Sevilla caused plenty of problems for a City defense that was often exposed.
Sevilla made last season’s Champions League winners uncomfortable with aggressive high pressing and En-Nesyri wasted several opportunities before scoring after a counterattack.
Marcos Acuna rose to a brilliant cross from the left to the Morocco striker who rose higher than Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol to unleash a powerful header past goalkeeper Ederson.
Erik Lamela wasted another good chance at Sevilla before Manchester City began to take control of the game, ending the first half strongly as Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic failed to convert crosses from Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
Sevilla started the second half strongly, however, and En-Nesyri missed a sitter after a good attack led by Lucas Ocampos. The Morocco striker squandered another glorious opportunity before Rodri found Palmer ghosting in behind the defense and he produced a clinical header that arched past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and in the net.
Nathan Ake should have won it for City in added time but his low diving header from five yards was well saved by Bounou, who almost stopped Kyle Walker’s spot-kick in the shootout before Gudelj hit the bar .
“It was always going to be a tough game. The youth showed a good performance. We need to be more clinical but we got the job done,” Manchester City captain Walker told TNT Sports.
“If anyone plays with me they know I don’t want to take penalties because I don’t want to embarrass people if I miss. Pep put me on at five. [I wanted to] show leadership. Lucky because he entered and won,” he said.
If Manchester City now win the Club World Cup in December, it will complete Guardiola’s list of honors since arriving in England, which already includes five Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and the club’s first Champions League.
“We are very happy that the club won it,” Guardiola said on Wednesday. “We miss just one to complete the full circle and get all the titles we can have.”
