Manchester City let a two-goal lead slip in the Community Shield as bitter rivals United snatched another late winner.
Joleon Lescott headed City into the lead in the 39th minute when he flicked on David Silva's free-kick.
And the Blues doubled their advantage shortly before the break when Edin Dzeko smashed a 25-yard effort past David de Gea.
But United were quickly back in the game with two goals in six minutes before the break from Chris Smalling and Nani.
And they scored a dramatic late winner when Blues skipper Vincent Kompany failed to deal with Wayne Rooney's clearance allowing Nani to race clear from the halfway line and score past Joe Hart.
It was a far from friendly affair in London with seven bookings – City 5 United 2 in the Blues’favour as regards that scoreline.
City will, in the cold light of day, know they should have won from being 2-0 up – even allowing for United’s famed never-say-die attitude.
The Blues can at least be happy that they matched the champions - and both clubs put on a spectacle which will have raised the anxiety levels among their domestic and European rivals.
With £38million record signing Sergio Aguero kept on the bench and want-away Carlos Tevez absent but due back today, Mancini knows he has much more firepower to call upon.
But Fergie will have left the capital the happier manager, with his young guns – especially Cleverley and the one Mancunian on the pitch in Longsight-born Danny Welbeck – giving him serious food for thought.
Referee Phil Dowd also excelled and kept the lid on a feisty encounter that threatened to boil over in the first half.
What do you think? Have your say.
Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3
August 07, 2011
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yeah. mancini is a great manager. let's hear it for Mancini!!!!
Another lesson given to the second rate team from the other side of town from Manchester United.
If we are to challenge United for the League, we still have a lot of catching up to do based on this performance. They were quicker, hungrier, more skillful and looked much fitter. Our midfield was completely outplayed even after we added another man when Barry came on. Surely that has to be de Jong’s worst game ever-won very few tackles and mistimed virtually every pass he made. The back four were not a lot better and Kompany should be donating this week’s wages to charity. Could not figure out where David Silva was supposed to be playing-having read rave reports about his US and Dublin games, he was never in this one. Dzeko’s only contribution was the goal which De Gea should have saved. He lacks control of the ball and fails to link up with other players. Would like to have seen Mancini be as bold as Ferguson-should have thrown Aguero into the fray when he took Balotelli off but went defensive with Barry, which had no effect at all. Still need to buy-Nasri and Sneider and get Tevez playing as much as I am upset by his attitude.
Another 5 or 6 signings and we might be shaking with fear instead of laughter .... Sorry Citeh you can't buy heart and class
Very disappointed! We never got started in the 2nd half. It's only one game but today they got lucky with calls from their favourite Ref.
I think this can be summed up in one word .... fitness. United were sharper, they were quicker and it seemed as though we just expected to turn up to get a result. Too pedestrian in many of our movements although Silva again was excellent. Disappointed like many we never got a chance to see Aguero and I thought SWP would have got a run out. This has to go down as another learning curve in our development, but to throw it away in the last minute again was unbelievable. The league games will be very different and should show a vastly improved City. Cracking goal from Dzeko though.
You Cannot buy PASSION !
Youth, commitment, speed, pride, never say die attitude and love of our club’s badge. United players have got it all and showed it again today.
Had Speedy Hernandez been on the pitch to get on the end of some of those crosses, we would have won by a cricket score. When will City learn that United never give in, we play till the final whistle? Perhaps they just don’t care as much as we do or their wallets are too heavy?....
Well done United, looks like another great year ahead!
if it had been a boxing match the ref would have had to stop it on the ground of the opposition were taking undue punishment. dross ted and freddy the dob your boys took one hell of a beating.
the ciddy fans must have felt right at at home at wemberlee have you ever seen so many empty plastic seats ouside of WASTELANDS. take note mr dzeko when you next spout off .
A shambolic embarrassment. They let the rags dominate from start to the inevitable finish. Yards off the pace and incohesive. Balotelli a waste of time. Bench him for Swansea. Chuck some cold water over the dopes out there today before the Swansea match and damn well wake up. Pathetic.
VK had an outstanding game until the last minute. Come on City; not the end only the beginning.
Well, well, well. A shame you couldn't win your world cup final, even with a 2-0 lead. Both goals may I add, were against the run of play... we dominated throughout. Your dirty tactics didn't faze us.
Beaten by our youngsters.
And the funniest thing, I think you emptied out Wembley quicker than we did last season! LOL.
Let's hear the excuses then:
"This didn't mean anything, it was only a friendly anyway" (that's not what you were saying before the game)
"Doesn't matter, we're still richer than you"
"United bought the ref"
Heard it all before, keep it coming guys. It keeps me amused.
Mancini OUT!
And the dream slowly fades away for citeh ha ha
Was it Winstone Churchill who once said 'Football is a simple game played between two teams where United always beat City with a last minute winner '
GET IN THERE !
New season but the pecking order still the same.
Very sure the bitters will b saying that it means nothing etc...bet u werent saying that at half time. Shows fergie is getting it right again with smalling, jones, cleverley all looking comfortable. City had moments (or shud i say silva who is class) but all in all a footballing lesson by the champions! Anderson played well even. No doubt city will b in the mix but confident our class will bring number 20 by may. Shud b another eventful season! CANT WAIT!!!
great game both teams played a part in it, but the midfield weakness was showed again thanks to carrick, if that performance by carrick doesnt prove we need a midfielder then what does?
great performances by smalling, and a decent one by ashley young thought de gea started nervous but got better as the game went on.
nani had a brilliant game & should keep his place ahead of valencia as he is a match winner. a mention for tom cleverley who also had a good game and was an improvement on that useless carrick.
whos laughing now city fans?
How come Aguero didn't get 15 mins run out?
Defensively we looked fragile. VK wasn't his normal assured self and Milner and Balotelli shouldn't have stayed on for as long as they did.
I'm hoping that Mancini had one eye on the opening handful of fixtures and thought that the guys should ease off on the pressure.
I can't express enough how much I hate Nani, Raphael, Rooney and Ferdinand.
great game both teams played a part in it, but the midfield weakness was showed again thanks to carrick, if that performance by carrick doesnt prove we need a midfielder then what does?
great performances by smalling, and a decent one by ashley young thought de gea started nervous but got better as the game went on.
nani had a brilliant game & should keep his place ahead of valencia as he is a match winner. a mention for tom cleverley who also had a good game and was an improvement on that useless carrick.
whos laughing now city fans?
Give little ciddy 2 nil start bring on the kids bang bang bang bye bye bye
Oh, didn’t our kids shred the “noisy neighbors”, millions into a thousand pieces? Tom Cleverly? Well, that’s Andres Iniesta for you. Totally speechless for this boy’s talent. Congratulations for Nani’s deserved MOM. The combination of Anderson and Tom is terrific. Anyway I new that once Carrick left we would play that scintillating kind of football. There couldn’t have been a better way to lay the maker for the new season than put the “noisy neighbors” in there place.
..before the break?
city still haven't found the right balance when playing against the top teams yet
Ha ha ha ha!
Tick tock indeed!
The best thing about that was that City were desperate to win that 'trophy'! It was clear to see by the fact that they made no half-time changes and set up to defend their 2-0 lead. I constantly hear from City fans that 'the rags are finished', because we don't spend billions. If I am not mistaken, it was pretty much the future of United that destroyed your team in the second half.