SBNation.com - Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Nani Brace Completes Red Devils Comeback Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2011-08-07T12:54:18-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21128842011-08-07T12:54:18-04:002011-08-07T12:54:18-04:00Manchester City Play Switcharoo With Community Shield Score
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<p>It was a tough loss for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> in the 2011 Community Shield on Sunday. At least, that's according to most of the world. According to City's website, however, the 3-2 defeat against Manchester United was actually a <i>magnificent triumph</i>.</p>
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<p>When you can't beat them, be them! That's the spirit, eh?</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2011/8/7/2349863/manchester-city-community-shield-final-scoreGraham MacAree2011-08-07T12:25:11-04:002011-08-07T12:25:11-04:00VIDEO: Beautiful Passing Sets Up Nani Goal For Manchester United Vs. Manchester City
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<p>Glorified friendly or not, the FA Community Shield was worth watching. It was open and exciting. There was some bad blood between Manchester United and Manchester City. The Red Devils made a great comeback. City looked flummoxed. Oh, and United also made some pretty with this goal. </p>
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<p>Tick, tick, tick, tick, goal! That is how you break down a defense with perfect and precise passing and movement in small spaces. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110226/wayne-rooney" class="sbn-auto-link">Wayne Rooney</a>, Nani and <span>Tom Cleverley</span> all got in on the action for the gorgeous goal that left City helpless, although I suppose if Roberto Mancini had just played with three defensive midfielders this could have been stopped, right, Roberto?</p>
<p>This goal would equalize the match for United, who trailed 2-0 at halftime. In injury time Nani would add a second goal, that one the game-winner as the Red Devils completed the comeback. This being a glorified friendly, nobody will remember the scoreline of this match for long, but they sure will remember United's brilliant second goal.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2011/8/7/2349824/manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-2011-community-shield-nani-goal-videoRyan Rosenblatt2011-08-07T12:03:31-04:002011-08-07T12:03:31-04:00Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Red Devils Come Back For 3-2 Victory
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<p>Leading 2-0 at halftime, it looked like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> had the FA Community Shield in the bag, but then <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> 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.</p>
<p>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. <span>Micah Richards</span> was lucky not to see red on a poor tackle and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110234/patrice-evra">Patrice Evra</a> came dangerously close to committing a foul in a clear scoring opportunity so there was no shortage of action for referee Phil Dowd.</p>
<p>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. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110865/david-silva">David Silva</a> whipped in a beautiful ball to the top of the six-yard box where it found <span>Joleon Lescott</span>. The defender finished and City were up.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Six minutes after the break <span>Chris Smalling</span> got the Red Devils back in the match. The youngster tapped home <span>Ashley Young</span>'s free kick to cut City's lead in half and set the course for the comeback.</p>
<p>United's equalizer could not have been prettier. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110226/wayne-rooney">Wayne Rooney</a>, Nani and <span>Tom Cleverley</span> 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.</p>
<p>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 <span>Vincent Kompany</span> 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.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2349756/manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-2011-community-shield-final-score-fulltime-news-naniRyan Rosenblatt2011-08-07T11:33:44-04:002011-08-07T11:33:44-04:00Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Nani Earns Last-Gasp Winner For United
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<p>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 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110865/david-silva">David Silva</a>'s floating delivery. The ball is cleared, and Nani races onto it, ghosting past <span>Vincent Kompany</span> as though the big Belgian wasn't there, sprinting clear of the rest of the City defence, rounding <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110204/joe-hart">Joe Hart</a> and putting the ball into the back of the net. Magnificent goal, and that makes it 3-2 United.</p>
<p>It's also the last action of the game, what with it being scored in the 94th minute and all. That's that then - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> 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.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2349764/manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-2011-community-shield-nani-earnsGraham MacAree2011-08-07T11:26:27-04:002011-08-07T11:26:27-04:00Manchester United Vs. Manchester City: Dimitar Berbatov Makes Entrance
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<p>An elite striker comes onto the field as a substitute! No, it still isn't <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110056/sergio-aguero">Sergio Aguero</a> for some stupid reason. Instead, <span>Dimitar Berbatov</span> replaces <span>Danny Welbeck</span> 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.</p>
<p>Actually, it's Tom Cleverly who misses after excellent work from Nani and <span>Chris Smalling</span> 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.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2349755/manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-dimitar-berbatov-makes-entranceGraham MacAree2011-08-07T11:13:07-04:002011-08-07T11:13:07-04:00Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Gael Clichy Makes City Debut
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<p>A Manchester City player makes his debut for the club! But not the exciting and/or good one. Gael Clichy comes in for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110685/aleksandar-kolarov">Aleksandar Kolarov</a>, 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.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span>Adam Johnson</span> 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.</p>
<p><b>PS: </b>Where on earth is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110056/sergio-aguero">Sergio Aguero</a>? Argh.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2349729/manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-2011-community-shield-gaelGraham MacAree2011-08-07T11:06:04-04:002011-08-07T11:06:04-04:00Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Substitutions For Both Sides
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> 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. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110219/james-milner">James Milner</a> is hauled off for <span>Adam Johnson</span> in an attempt to put some pressure on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110234/patrice-evra">Patrice Evra</a>. Disappointingly, Milner doesn't follow Mario Balotelli's lead and strop off down the tunnel. Kun Aguero looks on, baffled.</p>
<p>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 <span>Joleon Lescott</span> to deny <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110226/wayne-rooney">Wayne Rooney</a> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2349714/manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-2011-community-shieldGraham MacAree2011-08-07T10:57:37-04:002011-08-07T10:57:37-04:00Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Community Shield: Nani Levels Match With Beautiful Goal
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<p>Good grief, that's an absolutely wonderful goal for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a>. 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 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110226/wayne-rooney">Wayne Rooney</a> 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 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110204/joe-hart">Joe Hart</a> to level the score.</p>
<p>Roberto Mancini immediately makes an change, replacing Mario Balotelli with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110213/gareth-barry">Gareth Barry</a>, 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.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2349701/manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-2011-community-shield-naniGraham MacAree