Akanji scores clinching penalty as Man City beats Man United in shootout to win Community Shield

LONDON (AP) — Chastened by a decisive penalty miss at the recent European Championship, Manuel Akanji was happy to be placed near the end of Manchester City’s list of spot-kick takers during a shootout against Manchester United in the Community Shield on Saturday.

Imagine how the Switzerland defender felt, then, when the opportunity fell to him to score the winning penalty at Wembley Stadium.

“I let the others shoot first,” Akanji said, “because obviously when you miss a penalty, you don’t go into the next one with that much confidence.”

This time he made no mistake.

After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, City beat United 7-6 in a shootout to win the traditional curtain-raiser to the English soccer season between the winners of last season’s Premier League (City) and FA Cup (United).

City's players rushed from the center circle to celebrate with Akanji after he lifted the clinching penalty straight down the middle and into the roof of the net.

In the Euro 2024 quarterfinals last month, Akanji was left with “deep emptiness, deep sadness” — in the words of Switzerland coach Murat Yakin — when he was the only player to not convert a penalty in a shootout loss to England. On that occasion, Akanji took Switzerland’s first attempt.

“He missed it in the Euros," City manager Pep Guardiola said, “and I love he had the personality to take it.”

City ended a run of three straight losses in the Community Shield — to Leicester, Liverpool then Arsenal over the past three years — and went some way to avenging the loss to United in the FA Cup final 77 days ago. Guardiola's team was beaten 2-1 to miss out on another league-and-cup double.

It looked like United would be claiming another Wembley win over its neighbor when second-half substitute Alejandro Garnacho cut inside and drove a low shot inside the near post in the 82nd minute.

City equalized in the 89th when Bernardo Silva, also a substitute, headed in from Oscar Bobb’s cross.

The game went straight to penalties — there is no extra time in the Community Shield — and Silva saw his shot saved by Andre Onana off City’s first attempt.

Jadon Sancho failed off United’s fourth kick as Ederson tipped the shot onto the post. It was more penalty heartache for Sancho, who was one of three England players to miss in the shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

United defender Jonny Evans, the team’s eighth penalty-taker, chipped his effort over the crossbar to give Akanji the chance to win it for City.

Against England in Dusseldorf, the center back placed his kick to his right and had it saved by Jordan Pickford, but this time he hit it down the middle.

While United fielded a close-to-full-strength team, City was still without a raft of key players following the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England. Rodri, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones were all missing, while Kevin De Bruyne started on the bench and was a late substitute.

“We’re happy to start the season in the way we have and obviously there’s a lot to come," said Ruben Dias, who was City's captain for the match. “It’s another trophy and we’re always happy to collect trophies. We’ve just had a long season and we still don’t have a full squad back but it is very good for us to start this way.”

Guardiola has now won 18 trophies — including the Community Shield three times — since joining City in 2016.

The Premier League season starts Friday, when United hosts Fulham.

“It hurts in your stomach — you have to feel pain and we have to hurt," United manager Erik ten Hag said. “We have to take this belief in to the league.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland kicks a penalty during the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester United players stand together during the penaty shootout during the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne lifts the trophy after his team won the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland controls the ball during the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford fails to score during the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City players celebrate winning the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United by penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne lifts the trophy after his team won the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag watches his team during the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola watches his team during the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot , left, and Manchester City forward Jérémy Doku challenge for the ball during the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias heads the ball during the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City forward Erling Haland shoots during the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho, left, and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford celebrate after scoring their side's first goal during the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the FA Community Shield soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A measure undoing Missouri’s near-total abortion ban will appear on the ballot in November, the state’s high court ruled Tuesday, marking the latest victory in a nationwide fight to have voters weigh in on abortion laws since federal rights to the procedure ended in 2022.

If passed, the proposal would enshrine abortion rights in the constitution and is expected to broadly supplant the state’s near-total abortion ban. Judges ruled hours before the Tuesday deadline for changes to be made to the November ballot.

Supreme Court judges ordered Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to put the measure back on the ballot. He had removed it Monday following a county circuit judge’s ruling Friday.

The order also directs Ashcroft, an abortion opponent, to “take all steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot.”

Secretary of State's Office spokesman JoDonn Chaney in an email said the Secretary of State's Office is putting the amendment on the ballot, although Ashcroft in a statement said he's “disappointed” with the ruling.

The court's full opinion on the case was not immediately released Tuesday.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the campaign backing the measure, lauded the decision.

“Missourians overwhelmingly support reproductive rights, including access to abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care,” campaign manager Rachel Sweet said in a statement. “Now, they will have the chance to enshrine these protections in the Missouri Constitution on November 5.”

Mary Catherine Martin, a lawyer for a group of GOP lawmakers and abortion opponents suing to remove the amendment, had told Supreme Court judges during rushed Tuesday arguments that the initiative petition “misled voters” by not listing all the laws restricting abortion that it would effectively repeal.

“This Missouri Supreme Court turned a blind eye and ruled Missourians don’t have to be fully informed about the laws their votes may overturn before signing initiative petitions,” the plaintiffs said in a statement after the decision.

Missouri banned almost all abortions immediately after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Eight other states will consider constitutional amendments enshrining abortion rights, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota. Most would guarantee a right to abortion until fetal viability and allow it later for the health of the pregnant woman, which is what the Missouri proposal would do.

New York also has a ballot measure that proponents say would protect abortion rights, though there’s a dispute about its impact.

Voting on the polarizing issue could draw more people to the polls, potentially impacting results for the presidency in swing states, control of Congress and the outcomes for closely contested state offices. Missouri Democrats, for instance, hope to get a boost from abortion-rights supporters during the November election.

Legal fights have sprung up across the country over whether to allow voters to decide these questions — and over the exact wording used on the ballots and explanatory material. In August, Arkansas’ highest court upheld a decision to keep an abortion rights initiative off the state’s November ballot, agreeing with election officials that the group behind the measure did not properly submit documentation regarding the signature gatherers it hired.

Voters in all seven states that have had abortion questions on their ballots since Roe was overturned have sided with abortion-rights supporters.

This story has been corrected to show that eight states outside Missouri will consider constitutional amendments enshrining abortion rights, not nine.

Associated Press reporter David A. Lieb contributed to this report.

People gather outside the Missouri Supreme Court building on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo., in advance of oral arguments on whether to remove an abortion rights constitutional amendment from the general election ballot. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

A vehicle passes in front of the Missouri Supreme Court building on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Jefferson City, Mo., in advance of oral arguments on whether an abortion rights constitutional amendment should be removed from the general election ballot. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

Missouri Supreme Court to decide whether an abortion-rights amendment goes before voters

FILE - Missouri residents and pro-choice advocates react to a speaker during Missourians for Constitutionals Freedom kick-off petition drive, Feb. 6, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)

Missouri Supreme Court to decide whether an abortion-rights amendment goes before voters