Man City 1 Sevilla 1 (5-4 pens): Guardiola gets first trophy of the season after Cole Palmer rescues City in Super Cup
MANCHESTER CITY rose from the ruins in the Greek capital to lift a fourth trophy of the summer.
The Champions League winners looked to be missing out on the Super Cup as a first half header from Yasser En Nasyri put Seville in front.
But Cole Palmer pulled Pep Guardiola’s level after the break and this time they held their nerve in the shoot-out.
Unlike in the Community Shield, City scored all five of their penalties – with Erling Haaland among those successful
And midfielder Nemanja Gudelj blasted his kick against the bar to spark wild celebrations among those in sky blue.
England Under 21 star Palmer is expected to leave the Etihad before the end of the transfer window.
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But he is doing his bit to persuade Pep Guardiola to keep him as he added a second half header to the beauty he got at the Community Shield.
City secured their first piece of silverware after seeing off Sevilla on penalties.
And at the very least, Palmer he is giving his club a dilemma as the clubs queue up to take him for the campaign ahead.
It had been a testing night for the Champions League winners who trailed to a super early header from Yasser En Nesyri.
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And but for keeper Ederson, the Morocco World Cup star could have had a hat-trick.
The game did not kick off until 10pm local time yet it was still a stifling 29 degrees in the Greek capital.
Pep Guardiola’s squad is stretched already due to injury.
So he will no doubt be concerned about how much it will take out of his troops ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Newcastle.
However it was the chance to win another piece of silverware to add to the three they won in the space of three unforgettable weeks in the spring.
City have never won this competition and as Rodri said on the eve of the game, it was an opportunity to put the club on the European map.
Manager Guardiola has won it three times – twice with Barcelona and also with Bayern Munich.
New £77 million signing Josko Gvardiol was given a first start with Ruben Dias left out due to concussion protocols.
Kevin de Bruyne’s place was taken by another recent arrival from Croatia, Mateo Kovacic but Phil Foden was given a chance to play in the middle.
City began nervously as Manuel Akanji was robbed by former Tottenham man Erik Lamela but he fluffed his shot.
A series of chances came at the other end as Bono got down well to save a low shot from Palmer.
And the keeper was there again to block a header from Ake – although the Dutch defender should have scored.
Gvardiol tried his luck from long range after Bono chose to punch a cross by Kyle Walker – but skied his effort over the bar.
A Jack Grealish curler was then pushed away by the Moroccan keeper - who has an offer on the table to move to Saudi Arabia this month.
He was clearly trying to catch the eye with some of his stops – but they had been effective and important.
Because his team broke away and scored with their first effort on target thanks to his countryman Youssef En Nesyri.
The World Cup star got in between Ake and Gvardiol to get on the end of Marcos Acuna’s delicious cross - and beat Ederson with an emphatic header.
Loic Bade was perhaps fortunate to escape with only a yellow card as he pulled back Erling Haaland who would have been in on goal.
And it summed up a frustrating half for City as Rodri’s header was deflected onto the roof of the net.
Then Grealish teased over a cross which eluded everyone in the box but dropped just wide of the far post.
City could count themselves slightly unfortunate to be behind to the Europa League specialists - but they could have been two down soon after the re-start.
Skipper Walker flew into a challenge on Lucas Ocampos on his flank and mis-timed it – leaving Guardiola on his knees.
The Argentine rolled over a cross for En Nesyri – whose shot was saved by the legs of Ederson when the Brazilian shouldn’t really have seen it.
At the other end City – who lacked their usual zip in the hot weather – were finding Seville’s well organised defence tough to break down.
But just after the hour they finally managed it as Rodri lifted a cross from the left over the head of Haaland.
Coming in behind him was Palmer who guided his header back across Bono and into the far corner.
His performances are giving Guardiola something to think about as his club look to replace Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian – clearly watching in Saudi Arabia – tweeted his appreciation of his young apprentice after the goal.
En Nesyri could have put the Spaniards back in front straight away but Ederson raced off his line to make another super stop.
He was one of the heroes in the Champions League final in June – and was doing his bit here too.
But so too was Palmer who showed great feet to fashion a chance for himself before bringing a smart save out of Bono.
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It was all City now but Seville were hanging on as Walker’s low cross was deflected just out of the reach of Foden.
Ake then saw a downward header pushed over by the keeper in the last minute as the game drifted towards a penalty shoot-out, which City won 5-4.
