ATHENS: Unstoppable Manchester City became the sixth different English club to win the UEFA European Super Cup as they defeated Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw between the winners of last term’s Champions League and Europa League.

Only 10 days earlier City had lost on penalties to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. Previous English winners were Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

Ten of the last 11 Uefa Super Cups have been won by the previous season’s Champions League winner.
The first nine spot-kicks of the shootout were all converted but Nemanja Gudelj struck his penalty against the crossbar to hand victory to City.

City captain Kyle Walker converted what proved their decisive fifth penalty to land a fourth trophy in the calendar year after the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. A fifth, the Club World Cup, beckons in December.

Walker said: “It was always going to be a tough game. The lads put in a good performance. We have to be more clinical but we got the job done.

“If anyone played with me they know I don’t like taking penalties because I don’t like letting people down if I miss. Pep put me in at five. [I wanted to] show leadership. Luckily it went in and was the winning one.”

“Good teams capitalise on people’s mistakes. We rode our luck and we got there. There were tough conditions, everyone sweating, you can see it’s really hot.

“We’ve come away with this cup. To win this and put it in trophy cabinet at City is a good feeling.”
Youssef En-Nesyri had given Europa League winners Sevilla the lead with a towering header in the 25th minute but City equalised through a header from 21-year-old Cole Palmer in the 63rd minute.

Nathan Ake could have won it for City, last season’s Champions League winners, in added time but his stooping header from five yards was saved by Yassine Bounou.

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