The 2011-12 English Premier League season kicked off in earnest on Sunday with Manchester City and Manchester United competing for the Community Shield, a competition that ushers in a new season in English football.
Although the cup is the least prestigious in English football, the two teams fielded strong teams and it turned out to be a thriller.
Big-spending Manchester City surrendered a two-goal halftime lead and allowed United to take the honours and bragging rights with a 3-2 win. City took the lead when Joleon Lescott leaped above the rest to put the Sky Blues ahead. Edin Dzeko doubled the lead with a well-hit long range shot that beat United goalkeeper David De Gea.
The Red Devils started the second half the much better side as they condemned Roberto Mancini’s side to their own half. New signing Ashley Young was marauding on the left flank and his linkup play with Rooney, Nani and Danny Welbeck was a constant nightmare to the City defence.
They finally drew a goal back when Chris Smalling timed Ashley Young’s curled free-kick and the young centerback volley past City goalkeeper Joe Hart from close-range.
United got an equalizer in the 58th minute when Rooney, Nani and Cleverley exchanged some deft short touches that bamboozled and opened up the City defense before Nani hit a delicate chip that beat Joe Hart to make it 2-2.
With no extra time in this Cup competition, it looked like the two teams would head for the penalties especially after De Gea palmed away Adam Johnson’s ferocious drive.
However, a moment of hesitation from City captain Vincent Kompany and new signing Gael Clichy saw the former fail to deal with a Wayne Rooney clearance and Luis Nani capitalized by dispossessing Kompany before rounding City keeper Joe Hart and scoring the third goal that not only won the game for United but showed that Man City still have a hill to climb.
It was only the second time that the two giants from the City of Manchester met in the competition, the first being the 1956 FA Charity Shield, which United also won 1–0.
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