During the recent Community Shield match between Manchester United and Manchester City, a significant moment of drama unfolded when Jadon Sancho missed a crucial penalty. The incident occurred during the penalty shootout, which eventually saw City emerging victorious with a 7-6 win. Manuel Akanji’s decisive penalty secured the trophy for City.
Manchester United had initially gained an advantage in the shootout when their goalkeeper, André Onana, successfully saved a penalty taken by Bernardo Silva. However, the momentum shifted when Sancho, who was taking his first competitive penalty since the Euro 2020 final, missed his attempt. Sancho aimed for the right corner of the goal, but City’s goalkeeper, Ederson, made a superb save, pushing the ball onto the post. This miss pushed the shootout into a sudden death scenario.
Sancho, visibly disheartened by the miss, walked slowly back to the center circle. At just 24 years old, it was particularly tough for him to see his penalty attempt fail, especially after it struck the post. In the aftermath, Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Manchester United, quickly went over to offer Sancho some comfort. Fernandes himself had a rollercoaster of a game; he thought he had scored a stunning curling shot into the top right corner during regular play, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. He managed to convert his penalty in the shootout, but despite his efforts, City claimed the Community Shield.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team clinched the trophy this year, having been defeated by Arsenal in the previous season’s Community Shield. With the Premier League season set to start next week, City’s victory was a significant boost for them.
Jadon Sancho, despite the setback in the shootout, has been a crucial player for Manchester United during pre-season. After spending the latter part of the previous season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, following a public dispute with his manager, Sancho and the manager resolved their issues at the beginning of the summer. Now, at 24, Sancho is eager to have a successful season at Old Trafford and overcome the disappointment of his recent miss.
As Manchester United gears up for their Premier League opener against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday, Sancho will be looking to put the penalty miss behind him and contribute significantly to his team’s success. His performance during pre-season has been promising, and he will be keen to start the new league campaign on a positive note.