A dramatic Community Shield provided further evidence that Manchester United never know when they are beaten, as bitter derby rivals Manchester City were defeated in injury-time at Wembley.
Sir Alex Ferguson's defending Premier League champions had fallen two goals behind to last season's FA Cup winners, City, in the first half courtesy of Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko.
But, after the break, Chris Smalling's tap-in and Nani's finish to a sublime United move seemed set to send the match into a penalty shoot-out.
Nani, though, had other ideas in the 93rd minute when he latched onto a horrible moment of hesitation from Vincent Kompany to race clear of the City defence, round Joe Hart and secure a deserved win.
It had been some 24 hours for Danny Welbeck. Selected for England ahead of Jermain Defoe on Saturday, he started Sunday's showpiece while Dimitar Berbatov was on the bench and Michael Owen remained in his suit.
The 20-year-old was part of a scintillating performance from the Red Devils that lacked only an opening goal.
Between them, Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, Nani and new signing Ashley Young cut City's midfield apart. Had United's final ball been better, they surely would have got their noses in front.
As it was, Lescott got in the way of efforts from Young, Smalling and Welbeck. Rooney curled a free-kick narrowly wide.
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