By Victor Kanayo
UEFA Champions League winner, Manchester City of England has defeated Europa League winner Sevilla on penalties to win its first Super Cup trophy.
Pep Guardiola’s side lost the Community Shield to Arsenal in a shootout but saw their fortunes transformed when Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj hit the bar after nine successful penalties.
City had to come from behind in an entertaining encounter to force penalties after a towering header from Yousef En-Nesyri put the Europa League holders ahead on 25 minutes.
Sevilla goalkeeper Bono and his Manchester City counterpart Ederson both excelled with fine saves before man-of-the-match Cole Palmer rose at the far post in the 63rd minute to level with a looping header from Rodri’s cross.
It set up the tense finale that resulted in another piece of silverware being added to Guardiola’s vast collection.
Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker were successful, before Sevilla blinked first to start the celebrations for the English side that also won the Premier League and FA Cup last season.
Pep Of Many Trophies
It was the 15th trophy won by Manchester City under manager Pep Guardiola’s reign which started in 2016 and made up for the recent loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Guardiola will be hoping to complete his honours list since arriving in England which already includes five Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and the club’s first Champions League if Manchester City win the Club World Cup in December.
Already, Guardiola is the first manager to win the UEFA Super Cup with three different teams – Barcelona (two times), Bayern Munich and now Manchester City.
He has won his 4th European Super Cup, equalling Carlo Ancelotti as manager with most titles in this competition.
