Palmer’s Equalizer Sets Stage for Penalty Triumph as Man City Wins UEFA Super Cup

Manchester City claimed their first silverware of the season by winning the UEFA Super Cup after a penalty shootout against Sevilla. Cole Palmer’s headed equalizer in regular time forced the match into a shootout, where Nemanja Gudelj’s missed penalty secured City’s victory.

This marked the fifth consecutive time that the UEFA Champions League holders triumphed over their Europa League counterparts.

The game took place in Greece’s Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, where sweltering heat was expected to favour Sevilla. Despite Yassine Bounou saving Nathan Aké’s initial header, Sevilla took advantage of the opportunity that the circumstances presented.

Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri broke the deadlock with a powerful header sandwiched between two City defenders.

This goal energized the match, leaving City struggling to respond without the injured Kevin De Bruyne. Phil Foden’s attempt before halftime went begging, leaving the score 1-0 at the break.

The second half saw back-and-forth action, with Lucas Ocampos and En-Nesyri threatening for Sevilla. Palmer’s far-post header later equalized for City. As full-time couldn’t decide a winner, the match progressed to a penalty shootout.

Up until Sevilla’s Gudelj took the tenth penalty, the shootout remained tense.

Unfortunately for Sevilla, his shot hit the crossbar, granting City their inaugural UEFA Super Cup victory.

Sevilla, on the other hand, suffered their fifth consecutive Super Cup loss and their fifth head-to-head defeat in a row against City.