Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Nani Brace Completes Red Devils Comeback Win

Manchester City Play Switcharoo With Community Shield Score

VIDEO: Beautiful Passing Sets Up Nani Goal For Manchester United Vs. Manchester City

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Red Devils Come Back For 3-2 Victory

Leading 2-0 at halftime, it looked like Manchester City had the FA Community Shield in the bag, but then Manchester United came back to show the Citizens why they are champions. Sure, the match is just a glorified friendly, but it meant something to City, who are trying to prove that they are actually title contenders and not just high-spending wannabes. That's what made United's brilliant second half hurt the Citizens that much more as the Red Devils scored three times after the break for a 3-2 win at Wembley.

Both sides came out with more intensity than you would expect for a friendly, but the rivalry between the two teams carried over. Edin Dzeko took offense to a tackle by Nani and the two ended up in a shoving match. Micah Richards was lucky not to see red on a poor tackle and Patrice Evra came dangerously close to committing a foul in a clear scoring opportunity so there was no shortage of action for referee Phil Dowd.

United were the better side early on, but it was City who scored first. After Evra fouled Dzeko, the Citizens had themselves a free kick in a dangerous position. David Silva whipped in a beautiful ball to the top of the six-yard box where it found Joleon Lescott. The defender finished and City were up.

Just before halftime Dzeko doubled City's lead. He found some space in the center and with no United defender bothering to close down he had a ambitious go at goal. It was a hard, low shot, but one that David de Gea should have saved. The new United signing failed to react to the darting ball and poorly let it in for City's second of the match.

Six minutes after the break Chris Smalling got the Red Devils back in the match. The youngster tapped home Ashley Young's free kick to cut City's lead in half and set the course for the comeback.

United's equalizer could not have been prettier. Wayne Rooney, Nani and Tom Cleverley combined for a gorgeous passing sequence just 30 yards from goal, full of back heels and clever short balls. Eventually Nani was in alone on goal and chipped hom the equalizer to complete the beautiful goal.

The match looked destined for a draw, even if United were mesmerizing all half. They had their great plays and chances, but none finished so the 2-2 draw was on. That is until injury time when the City defense failed. Rooney was defending a City set piece and just booted the ball out. It bounced to midfield where Vincent Kompany thought Gael Clichy would gather it and Clichy thought Kompany would gather it. Eventually Kompany tried to get it away, but Nani got there first, got past a flummoxed Kompany and was in alone on goal. He rounded the keeper then finished in the empty net and the comeback was complete as United went ahead for their 3-2 victory.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Nani Earns Last-Gasp Winner For United

Manchester City have lost the Community Shield just seconds after Edin Dzeko spurned a clear chance for Roberto Mancini's side to go ahead, completely missing a free header from David Silva's floating delivery. The ball is cleared, and Nani races onto it, ghosting past Vincent Kompany as though the big Belgian wasn't there, sprinting clear of the rest of the City defence, rounding Joe Hart and putting the ball into the back of the net. Magnificent goal, and that makes it 3-2 United.

It's also the last action of the game, what with it being scored in the 94th minute and all. That's that then - Manchester United retain the Community Shield after an absolutely superb second half that made up for a few horrible minutes at the end of the first. Rafael da Silva lifts his first and presumably last trophy as United captain, which makes a good game even better.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City: Dimitar Berbatov Makes Entrance

An elite striker comes onto the field as a substitute! No, it still isn't Sergio Aguero for some stupid reason. Instead, Dimitar Berbatov replaces Danny Welbeck with all of two minutes to go, which is plenty of time for the enigmatic Bulgarian to aggravate everyone by missing a clear-cut chance to win the game for Manchester United.

Actually, it's Tom Cleverly who misses after excellent work from Nani and Chris Smalling on the right flank, popping high into the air when in yards of space at the top of the box. Just earlier, Edin Dzeko had what seemed like a great chance to take the lead, but couldn't dig the ball out and shot weakly and straight at David de Gea. I've just realised that this game will go to penalties if nobody scores here, a prospect which I find greatly vexing. Someone score. Please? Four minutes of injury time before Phil Dowd blows the full time whistle.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Gael Clichy Makes City Debut

A Manchester City player makes his debut for the club! But not the exciting and/or good one. Gael Clichy comes in for Aleksandar Kolarov, which is clearly the most important substitution ever made by anyone in the whole history of football. Clichy wins a corner, which is completely wasted. Shock.

Meanwhile, Adam Johnson is starting to make his mark on the game, cutting inside and forcing David de Gea into a fine stop, his first of the match. The Spanish goalkeeper has to be very alert to leap up and beat the ball away at his near post - that shot was an absolute rocket. At the other end of the pitch, Nani tries his luck, but he'd be more likely to suceed if there weren't three Blue shirts between himself and the goal. It's still 2-2 with ten minutes to go in the 2011 Community Shield.

PS: Where on earth is Sergio Aguero? Argh.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Substitutions For Both Sides

Manchester City have the ball in the attacking area for what I believe is the first time all half. It doesn't stay that way for long, but hey, progress. James Milner is hauled off for Adam Johnson in an attempt to put some pressure on Patrice Evra. Disappointingly, Milner doesn't follow Mario Balotelli's lead and strop off down the tunnel. Kun Aguero looks on, baffled.

That substitution gives City a little more attacking bite, but its still their opposition who are looking the more dangerous. It takes an excellent (if somewhat fortunate) tackle from Joleon Lescott to deny Wayne Rooney as he looked to burst clear of the defence, and shortly thereafter the ball rolled alarmingly through the centre of the City box. Luckily for Roberto Mancinis side, no red shirt was in sight.

Patrice Evra's off now, replaced by Rafael da Silva, who hilariously appoints himself captain. I wonder how long it'll be before his teammates notice.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Nani Levels Match With Beautiful Goal

Good grief, that's an absolutely wonderful goal for Manchester United. Five minutes ago, Sir Alex Ferguson's side were down 2-0. Now it's 2-2, and although Nani will get the credit for the goal it was the product of absolutely sublime team play. Tom Cleverly and Wayne Rooney play some astonishingly good one touch football after being supplied by the Portuguese winger, weaving the ball through City's bewildered defence and releasing Nani once more. He finished off the move by crashing an unsaveable shot past Joe Hart to level the score.

Roberto Mancini immediately makes an change, replacing Mario Balotelli with Gareth Barry, which makes less than zero sense. Balotelli walks off down the tunnel - to steal a joke, that goal was so good that he's clearly decided to retire. United could have added to their second half tally a few minutes after that, but Joe Hart was finally equal to something, keeping out Wayne Rooney's angled drive. Quite a turnaround, this.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Chris Smalling Pulls One Back

I should criticise the quality of this game more often - whenever I do it leads to a goal. This time it's Manchester United's turn to breach their opposition's defence. United win a free kick after Micah Richards goes flying into a silly tackle, and Ashley Young sends in a wonderful delivery from which Edin Dzeko completely loses right back Chris Smalling. The 21-year-old leaps up and deftly guides the ball past Joe Hart with an outstretched boot. Lovely finish from the converted centre back - every striker would be proud of that.

A few minutes later and United have another free kick from similar position. This time Ashley Young reverts to Aston Villa form by smashing the ball straight into the Manchester City wall. James Milner was booked for the foul leading up to that one, which brings the yellow card total for the match up to a whopping twenty-seven million.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: 3 Subs For United To Start 2nd Half

Lots of changes for the second half then. Phil Jones, Johnny Evans and Tom Cleverly replace Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Anderson respectively, meaning that the amount of footballers who are also adverbs on the Wembley turf has increased by infinity. I hope everyone enjoyed half time, which featured tens of thousands of people who can't spell Atletico Madrid telling us that Manchester United new boy David de Gea is rubbish. As OptaJoe would say: Informed.

Anyway, the game's going once more, with those three subs by Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester City unchanged. United, who are suffering from the most undeserved two goal deficit you're ever likely to see, are trying to press City, but the ball is spending so much time in the air that it'll be a miracle if they manage to get a shot off within the next twenty minutes. It's not been a game of the highest quality, has it?

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Lescott, Dzeko Have Citizens Ahead 2-0 At Half

The FA Community Shield might be a glorified friendly, but Manchester United and Manchester City are playing like the match matters. Well, maybe not in terms of quality, but certainly in terms of intensity. The two sides combined to earn five yellow cards in a first half filled with tough tackles. City will not complain though because thanks to goals by Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko they have themselves a 2-0 lead at the break.

It took just 15 minutes for the two sides to begin fighting as Nani and Dzeko got into a shoving match after the Bosnian took offense to a tackle from the midfielder. The little scuffle earned both yellow cards and right after Micah Richards was shown yellow for an awful tackle that United was right to ask for a red card on, but referee Phil Dowd never looked to even consider a sending off.

Dzeko may not have liked Nani's tackle, but he was fine when Patrice Evra fouled him. It gave the Citizens a dangerous free kick, which David Silva perfectly whipped in to the top of the six-yard box. David de Gea didn't have a chance to come off his line and punch so when Lescott got inside of Rio Ferdinand, the City defender was able to nod the ball home for the opener.

It looked like the scoreline would stay 1-0 at half, but a few minutes from halftime the Citizens struck again. Dzeko got space in the middle and United didn't close him down so he let rip a great, hard shot. It was one that de Gea should have saved, but with the ball dipping and diving he let it past him. It was a goal that will earn the new signing plenty of criticism, but Dzeko didn't mind because he had himself a goal for a 2-0 City lead.

This being a friendly, neither side will take too much from this match, but City would still like to grab a win and make a statement that they have every intention of challenging for the Premier League crown. They are 45 minutes away from doing so.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Edin Dzeko Doubles The Lead With Speculative Effort

The camera pans to Sergio Aguero on the Manchester City bench, whereupon we see an expression that consists of equal parts bafflement and disdain. Not without reason - he's watching Edin Dzeko attempt to beat Rio Ferdinand in a one-on-one by playing hopscotch. Maybe that's a Bosnian thing. Anyway, to everyone's surprise it doesn't work at all.

What does work is when Dzeko just stands off and smashes a shot in from stupid range. The striker is all of 35 yards out and Manchester United completely fail to close him down, so he just hits the ball as hard as he can and beats David de Gea worryingly (for United) close to the centre of the goal. The young Spaniard really really ought to have done better there - he reacted very late. Anyway, it's Manchester City 2-0 Manchester United, which isn't really a score that reflects the scoreline. At least the game's more lively now. Or it would be, if it weren't halftime.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City: Joleon Lescott Gives City 1-0 Lead

You could probably call that against the run of play. Patrice Evra had given away a free kick for a foul against James Milner that left the England midfielder walking around a little bit hobbled, and from said free kick Manchester City score the opening goal. The hitherto fairly anonymous David Silva floats in a remarkable delivery for Joleon Lescott to rise over the defence and power home, and the ex-Everton defender fulfills his end of the bargain, smashing a header past David de Gea to give Manchester City a 1-0 lead.

A few minutes after the restart, and Evra fouls Milner again in even more dangerous territory. The game reverts to form - it ends up going out for a corner. De Gea catches the effort easily, and the announcers spend the next several minutes talking about how amazing his upfield punt was. By that measure, Paul Robinson is a goalkeeper of unrivalled talent. I'd hate to live in a world like that.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: More Fouls, More Yellow Cards

If anyone ever asks you 'what could be more boring than your average, run-of-the-mill pre-season friendly, you wouldn't do too badly to point to this game, I'm thinking. Because it's dire. Manchester City can't get the ball, so they're just trying to injury their opponents. Yaya Toure is the latest in the book, and seconds later Nigel de Jong lunges in for a stupid tackle as well. Phil Dowd calls captain Vincent Kompany over to explain his behaviour.

Anyway, from that free kick Nani hits the ball straight into Edin Dzeko's knee. This almost proves to be a winning decision as the ricochet causes Joe Hart some consternation, the shot flashing inches wide of his left-hand post. He had it covered all the way, though. Barely.

On the next possession, City get the ball in the United half without earning a corner. I'm as surprised as you are. It's a free kick instead. James Milner, meanwhile, appears to have possibly picked up an Achilles problem. Hrm.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: The One In Which City Have A Chance... Kind Of

In the first half hour, Manchester United have had something like 70% possession, and I think most of City's 30% has been taken up by their corner kicks. This is what happens when you don't play with two defensive midfielders, Roberto. Don't you see?!

James Milner runs up the length of the pitch and mounts Manchester City's first challenge on David de Gea's goal. The England man goes for the 20-year-old's far post from an acute angle only to see the ball bounce of Rio Ferdinand's boot and to safety. Phil Down gives a goal kick. He's probably as bored of the corner thing as I am.

Next, Mario Balotelli managed to foul himself while trying an intricate spin move against Nani. He lands, after Nani has played the ball, in between the winger's feet and falls over, clearly twisting something. He should be alright, but that was an immensely stupid idea - far worse than that backheel shot in a similarly pointless and stupid game against Los Angeles earlier this summer.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Micah Richards Should See Red, Doesn't

Micah Richards apparently doesn't like Ashley Young very much. Neither does Phil Dowd. The right-back sees the ball running to the Manchester United winger and opts to rectify the situation with a lunging two-footed tackle that Young nearly breaks his neck trying to get out of the way of. It's a yellow card for Richards, and probably would have been a red. If the game mattered. But it doesn't.

Wayne Rooney takes the free kick, sending his effort buzzing just over the crossbar at the far post. It's followed by Joe Hart's somewhat delayed leap. The first-choice England goalkeeper looked a little like a confused salmon there. He's been by far the busier of the two goalies so far today - David de Gea hasn't had to to do much of anything, really. The defence bails Hart out the next time United fly forward, knocking the ball out for a corner when the keeper had managed to get himself stranded on a cross. That was an opening. Kind of. Maybe.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Still Mosty United At Wembley

Manchester United are corner defending machines. Manchester City are... something. Nani fashions an opening by blazing down the right and crossing for Wayne Rooney, who appears to be somewhat surprise that everyone's missed the ball. He takes decisive action by also missing the ball, which seems faintly communist. Ashley Young mopping up can't do much of anything, and back back back the ball goes to the United defence for the team to start building again.

A fantastic flick by ersatz right back Chris Smalling launches another attack, this one lasting somewhat longer as red shirts probe and tease at the Manchester City defence. Then the ball gets to Michael Carrick in space, and he opts to chip the ball and two miles an hour in the vague direction of Joe Hart's goal. The City keeper has enough time to raise an eyebrow and suppress a chortle at the midfielder. I am not so lucky in my chortle-suppression.

Edin Dzeko and Anderson both get booked for getting tetchy with each other on the halfway line shortly after that. Said yellow cars will have no ramifications whatsoever.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: If You Like Corners, You'll Love This Match

Manchester City win a corner with basically their first spell of possession in the match to date. It's easily cleared by the Manchester United defence, who then march back up the field and try to win a corner of their own on the break. That doesn't quite work, so City go back down the other end and win a corner, which is... easily cleared by the United defence. Stop me if you've heard that one before.

Anyway, the inevitable United counterattack is thwarted by Joleon Lescott committing some sort of assault on young Danny welbeck, which doesn't seem particularly polite. Patrice Evra repays the favour a few seconds later Phil Dowd waggles his finger in decidedly unimpressed fashion. Either my football sensors are no longer calibrated for the Premier League or those two fouls could have been yellow cards in 'real' matches. I'm not sure.

Also, we haven't had a corner in something like two minutes now? I wonder if something is wrong.

Manchester Untied Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Game Underway

Manchester United kick us off in the 2011 Community Shield at Wembley, which based on the gravitas announcers is clearly the most important thing to have happened to sport in the History of All Time. It takes Sir Alex Ferguson's team twelve seconds to put the ball over the halfway line, and then Michael Carrick promptly drops it straight back to Rio Ferdinand. No mattter, though. The ball comes back along the left, Patrice Evra wins a free kick, and Ashley Young completely wastes it. The more things change, eh?

Three minutes in, and Manchester City's first chance of sustained possession comes when Nani overhits a pass that runs straight to Joe Hart. He then boots the ball straight up the length of pitch to a red shirt. Whoops. Seconds later and Ashley Young wins a corner for United, from which Danny Welbeck eventually tries an overhead kick. it doesn't work particularly well. Bright start for United though.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Lineups

Both managers have opted to field just about the strongest possible lineups in the 2011 Community Shield, taking not inconsiderable risks with key players on the Wembley turf. Manchester United, missing Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, play Danny Welbeck in his place, with Dimitar Berbatov somewhat unsurprisingly dropping to the bench. Wayne Rooney, as ever, will be pulling the strings.

Roberto Mancini's Manchester City will be going with a 4-4-2, although the pairing of Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli is somewhat less than inspiring when the firepower of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero is theoretically available to the Italian. Neither is actually able to start, however - Tevez is still on holiday, while Aguero has blister problems, joining Gael Clichy on the bench.

Here are your totally exciting Community Shield Lineups

Manchester City (4-4-2): Joe Hart; Aleksandar Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards; David Silva, Nigel de Jong, Yaya Toure, James Milner; Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko.

Manchester United (4-4-1-1): David de Gea; Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling; Nani, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Ashley Young; Wayne Rooney; Danny Welbeck.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Where To Watch On TV And Streaming Live Online

The 2011 Community Shield just happens to be a Manchester Derby between Manchester United and Manchester City, which means it should almost certainly be worth watching. There will be no Chicharito and Sergio Aguero starts on the bench, but both teams are fielding high quality lineups that are very close to their first choice XI. This won't be a 'proper' Manchester Derby, per se, but it'll be somewhere halfway in-between the intensity of a normal Community Shield and a real derby match. You want to know where you can watch this game on television or streaming live online, don't you? Well of course you do!

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield

Time: 9:30 am ET, 2:30 pm BST

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London

Television: Fox Soccer Channel (United States), ESPN UK (United Kingdom), Setanta Sports (Canada)

Online: Manchester United TV (International)

For more on both United and City, visit The Busby Babe and Bitter And Blue. For more on the entire world of footy, check out SB Nation Soccer. If you're looking for coverage of the Community Shield before, during, and after the game, keep it on our Community Shield StoryStream. The game kicks off at 9:30 am ET, 2:30 pm BST.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Sergio Aguero To Make Bench And Other Fitness News

Sergio Aguero reportedly picked up some blisters on his feet following his move from Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, but by all accounts he's back in training with City, and he's expected to make the bench, but not start the 2011 Community Shield against Manchester United on Sunday. His fellow new signings Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic should be in the 18-man squad, but in an unknown capacity. 

Manchester United are without a couple of players for sure, as both Michael Carrick and 'Chicharito' Javier Hernandez will miss out. Antonio Valencia, Rafael and Darren Fletcher have returned to full training for United after picking up injuries, but all are borderline for making the 18 on Sunday.

As for City, Carlos Tevez will be out of the game for sure. He's being allowed to take an extended leave from the team following the 2011 Copa America and will be joining the team for training on Monday.

For more on both United and City, visit The Busby Babe and Bitter And Blue. For more on the entire world of footy, check out SB Nation Soccer. If you're looking for coverage of the Community Shield before, during, and after the game, keep it on our Community Shield StoryStream. The game kicks off at 9:30 am ET, 2:30 pm BST.

Keeping An Eye On The Manchester Newcomers - The Busby Babe

The Community Shield is often laughed at. We're told it is a big deal, but really it is just a glorified friendly. More than anything, it signals the start of the new season, which is something anyone can get excited about. This season it's a Manchester Derby with United, the Premier League winners, taking on City, the FA Cup winners. As far as glorified friendlies go, this one is pretty damn good.

It is also very intriguing. Besides the rivalry aspect of it and the belief of many that the two Manchester sides are the two best teams in the Premier League, there is a some unknown with both sides. Both have a lot of newcomers who were expensive and will be expected to make an impact. Gene Um of SB Nation's Manchester United site, the Busby Babe, takes an in depth look at the match and thinks that the newcomers on both sides are one of the most important things to watch on Sunday.

* Newcomers: de Gea, Young, Jones, Aguero, Clichy - this will the most competitive scenario each side's supporters will get a chance to see their new acquisitions prior to next weekend when Premier League action begins. Is de Gea up to the task as the successor to the great Edwin van der Sar? Is Young capable of displacing the superb Park or Nani as first-choice on the left flank? Is Aguero capable of being of being City's talisman if Tevez departs? Quite obviously, none of this can be answered on Sunday but subtle hints can be provided.

As Gene says, nothing will be determined on Sunday. It's still just a glorified friendly with 38 real matches yet to be played, but that doesn't mean it's not interesting to see how the new guys do. How do they fit in with their new clubs? Are they capable of performing well enough to justify the large transfer fees shelled out for them? Even if it is a very small step, the Community Shield is step one in finding out the answers to those questions.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Preview

It's time for the Community Shield! Manchester United take on City in a game... that doesn't really matter at all. All right!