Manchester City's English defender (02) Kyle Walker holds the trophy on the podium after winning the 2023 UEFA Super Cup football match between Manchester City and Sevilla at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on Aug 16, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

ATHENS - Manchester City held their nerve to beat Sevilla 5-4 on penalties and win the UEFA Super Cup for the first time in their history after an enthralling game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

The first nine spot-kicks of the shootout were all converted but Serbian defender Nemanja Gudelj struck his penalty against the crossbar to hand victory to City, who lost on penalties to Arsenal in England's Community Shield 10 days ago.

Youssef En-Nesyri had given Europa League winners Sevilla the lead with a towering header in the 25th minute but City equalized through a header from 21-year-old Cole Palmer in the 63rd minute.

Manchester City's English midfielder (80) Cole Palmer heads the ball and scores in front of Sevilla's Moroccan goalkeeper #13 Yassine Bounou "Bono" (right) during the 2023 UEFA Super Cup football match between Manchester City and Sevilla at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on Aug 16, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

It was a exciting match played in scorching heat and humidity at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium as an obstinate Sevilla caused many problems for a City defense which was often exposed.

Youssef En-Nesyri had given Europa League winners Sevilla the lead with a towering header in the 25th minute but City equalized through a header from 21-year-old Cole Palmer in the 63rd minute

Sevilla made last season's Champions League winners uncomfortable with aggressive high pressing and En-Nesyri wasted several opportunities before he scored following a counter-attack.

Marcos Acuna lifted in a brilliant cross from the left to the Morocco striker who climbed higher than Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol to unleash a powerful header past goalkeeper Ederson.

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Erik Lamela wasted another good Sevilla chance before Manchester City started to take control of the match, finishing the first half strongly as Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic just failed to convert crosses from Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.

Manchester City's Nathan Ake (left) challenges for the ball with Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri during the UEFA Super Cup final soccer match between Manchester City and Sevilla at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, near Athens, Greece, on Aug 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Sevilla started the second half strongly, however, and En- Nesyri missed a sitter following a brilliant counter-attack led by Lucas Ocampos.

Erik Lamela wasted another good Sevilla chance before Manchester City started to take control of the match, finishing the first half strongly as Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic just failed to convert crosses from Phil Foden and Jack Grealish

The Morocco striker wasted another glorious opportunity before Rodri found Palmer ghosting in behind the defense and he produced a clinical header which arched over goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the net.

Nathan Ake could have won it for City in added time but his stooping header from five yards was brilliantly saved by Bounou, who almost stopped Kyle Walker's spot-kick in the shootout before Gudelj hit the bar.

"It was always going to be a tough game. The lads put in a good performance. We have to be more clinical but we got the job done," City captain Walker told TNT Sports.

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"If anyone played with me they know I don’t like taking penalties because I don't like letting people down if I miss. Pep put me in at five. (I wanted to) show leadership. Luckily it went in and was the winning one."