Leicester win the Community Shield! Kelechi Iheanacho haunts old club Man City as he fires home the winner from the penalty spot to ensure £100m man Jack Grealish has a miserable Wembley debut
- Manchester City took on FA Cup winners Leicester in the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday night
- The first-half was goalless but Leicester were the better side, with new boy Ryan Bertrand playing well
- New £100m Citizens signing Jack Grealish came on in the second-half, but couldn’t make an impact
- Centre-back Nathan Ake’s error handed Kelechi Iheanacho the penalty which secured the Foxes victory
- It’s Leicester’s second Community Shield victory and another important day in their incredible rise
We came, in truth, to see the £100m man. And Jack Grealish duly arrived and played a good half hour of significant football. But we left impressed by another player who might have made his mark on Euro 2020 had injury not intervened: Harvey Barnes.
And at the end of it all, Leicester had another trophy. It might only be the Community Shield. And they might have won in before in 1971, when Arsenal declined to participate and so they were invited as second division winners.
But still, Leicester are not yet so wearied by the modern game and a Wembley trip that they can afford to be blasé about days like this.
When Kelechi Iheanacho thumped home his 89th minute penalty past Zack Steffen, who got a hand to the striker but not with sufficient force to stop it, they celebrated with gusto at the Leicester end. As well they might. When Kasper Schmeichel raised the shield, they roared approval.
Leicester City have won the Community Shield after beating Premier League champions Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winner, netting a penalty after being fouled by Nathan Ake inside the box late in the game
Jack Grealish debuted at Wembley but didn’t have much impact in his 30 minute cameo, after signing for £100m this week
In truth, despite the cameo of Grealish, who was greeted with equally huge cheers and boos from rival fans as befits his status as most expensive Englishman and modern-day maverick, it was Leicester who looked the more Premier-League ready.
And it was Barnes who, until his departure on 78 minutes, was responsible for much of that superiority. He was a constant thorn in City’s side and after a series of mazy runs which left Joao Cancelo eventually resorting to an old-fashioned shoulder block,
Having missed the last three months of the last season with two operations on his knee, he shone throughout the first half. Indeed, his combination with Ryan Bertrand, impressing after his summer move from Southampton, look like being a productive outlet this season.
Had it not been for that injury, he might well have made Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2020. He might too have been on the pitch four weeks ago, as Grealish was, on the fateful night England succumbed to penalties to Italy.
Ake was caught napping inside his own box and Iheanacho pounced to take the ball away, but the defender hacked him down
The former Man City star came back to haunt his old club, slotting the penalty away as Steffen got a fingertip to the ball
All in all, the Community Shield often feels like a match too soon, and given the emotional intensity of the summer, that felt even more the case here. Nevertheless, both sides conspired to produce a decent match even it if took until the 86th minute for the decisive moment to emerge.
Nathan Ake was dwelling on the ball when Iheanacho hounded him down and nicked it away. As he fell, Ake made a grab for his opponent’s shorts and then desperately kicked out, striking his backside.
Was it an involuntarily act caused by his temporary discombobulation or a deliberate foul? Referee Paul Tierney decided on the latter and Fernandinho argued the case so strongly for the former, he earned yellow card.
Perhaps it was unsurprising. Leicester started with the more recognisable team, even if the Wesley Forfana injury has exposed the lack of centre halves, with Jonny Evans not yet fit. Daniel Amartey filled in adequately here.
City started with teenagers Sam Edozie and Cole Palmer and with Ferran Torres at No.9. It’s almost like they need to spend £100m plus on a new centre forward. They looked predictably ragged, far from the slick machine from the back end of last season.
And with key England players waiting to get fit – there was no John Stones, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling or Kyle Walker on the bench – it may be a while before they hit their stride.
So it was left to Barnes to steal the show. He had already exposed City’s vulnerabilities when he teed up a 24th minute shot, which rebounded to Vardy, whose striker was pushed away by Zack Steffen.
Pep Guardiola will be frustrated as his squad, which he admitted was a ‘second team’, struggled to connect well on Saturday
Harvey Barnes has a fantastic game, with his relentless running and brilliant link with Jamie Vardy producing great chances
A huge cheer went up for Grealish when he came on but they’ll have to wait for the quality that cost the champions £100m
City, though looking very much in pre season mode, weren’t without their own moments. Kasper Schmeichel had to pick up where he left off here in the Euro 2020 semi final, with a fine save from Ilkay Gundogan’s free kick on eight minutes.
And 18-year-old Edozie had a great opportunity to make a name for himself on 28 minutes, played in by Gundogan, but he blazed his shot wide.
With fellow teenager Cole Palmer, 19, buzzing around behind Ferran Torres, who was playing centre forward, City’s makeshift attack had a raw energy yet a youthful naivety about it. Even with Leicester’s shortage of centre halves, Caglar Soyuncu and Amartey looked in control.
Vardy must have thought his opening goal of the season was imminent just before half time. Bertrand intercepted and carried the ball up the pitch, intelligently waiting for players to get back into onside as the second phase of play began.
Leicester chairman Khun Top was present for another major moment for the club, who have transformed inside six years
The Foxes will go into the Premier League season high in confidence, aiming to finally secure a top-four spot for a second time
He fed Maddison who touched the ball to Barnes, who in turn crossed for Vardy. Eight yards out, with a clear sight of goal, Vardy connected cleanly but without sufficient power, striking across Steffen. But the City goalkeeper managed to get a touch with his leg to direct the ball on to the far post.
Leicester fans greatly enjoyed Riyad Mahrez skying a free kick effort on 55 minutes and even more derision was heaped on their former player when, from a Leicester corner, he managed to break free on the counter with the Leicester defence AWOL.
He charged at goal but Amartey and Wilfred Ndidi did enough to sprint back and distract him to shoot wide.
The penalty shoot out loomed though, until that Ake error and we were thankful it didn’t come to that. We’ve all had enough of those at Wembley for a while.
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Host commentator
The Foxes continue their rapid rise with another piece of Silverware, their first Community Shield title at Wembley.
Grealish’s introduction could do nothing to save City, as Nathan Ake’s clumsy foul on Iheanacho in the penalty box proved to be the decisive moment after the striker slotted away the spot-kick.
Another great moment for the Foxes, as Guardiola is left knowing there is more work to do before the start of the season.
The champions need to scramble for the equaliser now, as Grealish looks to inspire a last-gasp turnaround.
The £100m man skips towards the edge of the Foxes box on the left, looking to once again break past the defence and get a shot at Steffen.
But against the Foxes smother the danger, stopping Grealish dead.
… and buries it to the keeper’s left, just brushing the fingertips of Steffen – who guessed right.
Ake has cost his team here, and Leicester are ahead going into the dying minutes at Wembley.
HUGE moment, as Ake gives away a penalty to Leicester.
Dreadful mistake from the Dutch forward, who has had a strong game otherwise. He gets caught on the ball in his own penalty box by Iheanacho and lunges at the Nigerian forward as he tried to break away.
Fernandinho gets booked for dissent in the aftermath, now Iheanacho steps-up…
Big chances for the Foxes as Iheanacho goes racing onto a lovely ball behind the City defenders.
The striker is stretching but can’t quite get to it before the out-rushing Steffen, who can’t gather it first time and has to pounce on the ball at a second attempt.
We have 10 minutes to go at Wembley, and with the scores at 0-0 we’re heading for a stalemate at the whistle.
If there isn’t a breakthrough we’ll be heading straight to spot-kicks to decide who’ll lift the trophy.
Ryan Bertrand and Harvey Barnes’ day is done, as Luke Thomas comes on and Iheanacho faces his former club here.
Minutes ago, Ben Knight replaced Ferran Torres and Palmer made way for Silva.
Leicester are just waiting on their moment to pounce here, as City control the ball a while.
Grealish has seen plenty of ball so far, and skips away from a challenge to tap the ball down to the byline for Bernado Silva.
The midfielder puts a powerful cross into the box but nobody is onto it.
New Leicester signing Daka replaces Vardy up top as Rodgers makes some key changes in this game.
Fellow new arrival Soumare is also on in places of Tielemans, as Albrighton also replaces Perez.
The final change sees Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall come on for Maddison.
Grealish has moved onto the left wing and gathers the ball in a strong position.
The Englishman bares down on the defence and looks to wriggle through into the box, but it’s not with his usual fluidity and Leicester block him.
Here we go, the Manchester City debut for Jack Grealish has arrived, as the £100m man receives some last minute instructions from Pep Guardiola.
Big cheer from the City fans and a massive moment for the player.
He replaces 18-year-old Edozie, as Gundogan also makes way for Rodri.
Ilkay Gundogan has had a few cracks from range this match but isn’t getting closer, again seeing his effort blast over.
Mahrez took a corner short and gets it back on the right of the box, sliding inside towards Torres, but it spills out to the edge and the German can’t find the target.
A noisy cheer goes up from Manchester City fans are they spy £100m new boy Jack Grealish heading out for a warm-up at Wembely.
Guardiola was coy about his chances of minutes today, but we could get a sight of the midfielder soon.
Jamie Vardy is handed another chance but Dias does well. Maddison has the ball in midfield and it’s another direct pass forward into the box.
Vardy has some time shifting the ball to his right and shooting. But the Portuguese defender blocks well.
On a big night for 18-year-old Edozie, he didn’t have the first-half he will have hoped here.
The forward obviously had a chat with his maestro coach at the break, as he tried something different in his battle against Pereira down the left wing.
Edozie goes to the byline, using his pace to test the right-back. He cuts back, and manages to get space from the full-back – but the shot-cum-cross doesn’t trouble Schmeichel.
Back underway, as Riyad Mahrez gets up going again. Can City tighten up and start to take control, or will Leicester continue causing chaos with their fast-thinking front three?
No changes yet.
We’re back underway as . Can City tighten-up and start to take control, or will Leicester keep causing chaos with their fast-thinking front three.
A fascinating first-half comes to an end, and Brendan Rodgers will be the far happier manager in his Wembley changing room right now.
The Foxes had the best chance right at the end of the half with Vardy hitting the post, and City’s rusty play barely troubled a strong Foxes back-four – aside from a well struck free-kick testing Schmeichel.
Leicester fly forward in response to City’s last attack, and they look far more dangerous.
Bertrand wins the ball back and strides forward, laying it off to Maddison on the edge of the box. The playmaker holds the play up and slides it forward to Barnes, who is having a superb game.
Barnes chips it across the box for Vardy who takes a hit, which is just flicked onto the post by Steffen, and City scramble it away.
Edozie has the ball on the left as City setup camp on the edge of the Leicester box. The forward plays it back to Gundogan in space on the edge of the box, and the German goes for goal.
The strike bends comfortably over the bar, as City end another weak attack.
City attack and Gundogan sends Edozie out a little too wide with his pass. The forward gets it under control and moves the ball back to Mendy.
The Frenchman whips-in a ball towards Palmer, but Bertrand is underneath it. The pair clash and a free-kick is given to the Foxes inside their own box. Guardiola isn’t happy…
Barnes and Vardy are linking very nicely for this stage of the year, once again causing chaos in the City box.
Barnes plays it to Vardy and runs in towards the box. The striker takes a touch and slides it through to his team-mate, but Barnes’ touch is a little heavy and Ake gets across quickly to clear.
That sums-up City’s first-half. Guardiola’s men come forward with speed and Edozie is in space on the left.
Gundogan slides the ball through and the youngster has time but snatches at the shot, blazing it high and wide into the stand behind. City haven’t got going properly yet.
It’s the FA Cup champions who are taking control now as City look much more rusty than the sharp Foxes, playing in front of an organised back four.
Vardy takes a shot which is saved low by Steffen, after another splitting ball through the City defence.
Good chance for Leicester, as Pereira came bursting down the right latching onto a long bouncing ball forwards.
He stops it going out and plays it back to Tielemans on the edge, who flicks through to Perez. It’s just behind the Spaniard who can’t knock it past Steffen from close-range.
Soyuncu appears to get a whack in the head from a Palmer high boot, but play carries on with Leicester coming forward.
The ball goes into Barnes who jinks away from the defender and unleashes a low shot at the City goal, and Steffen has to stretch to palm it around the post.
The corner comes and goes without a threat, but City can counter. Mahrez is played in on the right as Leicester scramble, but Soyuncu gets back in time to block.
City having most of the ball now, as a ball comes over the top of the Leicester midfield to Gundogan to the right of the box.
The midfielder takes it down and tries to combine with Torres, but the striker looses it.
Moments later, Benjamin Mendy receives a pass in midfield and a clumsy touch sees the ball spill out of play.
Manchester City win a free-kick centrally 30 yards from goal, and Gundogan and Mahrez both want it.
It’s the German who steps-up, bending it towards the top corner to Schmeichel’s right.
The effort lacks a little pace and the Danish hero has time to get across and pluck it from the top corner. Comfortable save.
It’s been a steady start so far as the players continue to shake-off their summer legs, but the play is just hotting up now…
Gundogan just tried a pass down the line to Edozie but the youngster couldn’t control it. Going up the other end, Leicester attack with Harvey Barnes beginning to dance through the box, but he gets robbed after dodging a few tackles.
We’re off, with Leicester in their new blue and white home strip, and Manchester City in their white and turquoise change kit for 2021-22.
The players are in place, we’re almost ready, here’s a reminder of the line-ups…
MCI: Steffen; Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Mendy; Fernandinho, Gundogan, Palmer; Mahrez, Edozie, Torres.
LEI: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Amartey, Soyuncu, Bertrand; Ndidi, Tielemans, Perez; Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.
The teams are just strolling out of the tunnel now, led by the referees, with managers Pep Guardiola and Brendan Rodgers towing their captains.
Wembley is loud, and Community Shield sits on the pitch alongside the Premier League and FA Cup trophies.
James Maddison is starting tonight, and Foxes fans can expect the midfielder to be doing the same throughout the season as he played-down talk of a move before this evening’s match.
There has been interest from Arsenal, but Maddison looks set to snub the Gunners in favour of European football.
Pep Guardiola was in a serious mood speaking to ITV before kick-off, and the City boss appeared to avoid talking too much about new boy Jack Grealish.
‘I don’t know. He’s here maybe he can play but he just run of himself one week so we will see,’ the Spaniard said.
The sun in shining on London and fans are in a good mood as they return to Wembley for the kick-off of the season.
Stadiums will be full for the start of the Premier League season but the Community Shield is another of the events that are to be staged with the arena ‘partially full’.
Pep Guardiola admitted City would be fielding a ‘second team’ after many of his stars’ seasons extended deep into Euro 2020 and the Copa America.
However, £100m new boy Jack Grealish is on the bench, while American back-up keeper Zack Steffen and 18-year-old striker Samuel Edozie get a chance to shine.
Over at Leicester, it’s a full strength Foxes team with their powerful front-three of Vardy, Maddison and Barnes starting.
New signing from Southampton, Ryan Bertrand, is also involved from the whistle – with fellow arrivals Boubakary Soumare and Patson Daka on the bench.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sportsmail’s coverage of the Community Shield at Wembley, as Premier League champions Manchester City and FA Cup winners Leicester face-off.
It’s the proper return of club football after a fantastic summer of entertainment on the international stage, so welcome back!
Stay tuned right here for all the build-up and live updated from Toby Miles.
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