toptop
Shoot Out Success For Blues (Sky Sports)
Manchester United 2 Chelsea 2
Chelsea
overcame an injury-time equaliser from Wayne Rooney to defeat Manchester United
4-1 on penalties in the Community Shield at Wembley.
The FA Cup-winning Blues were set for success in 90 minutes as Ricardo
Carvalho and, controversially, Frank Lampard scored in the second half to
overturn Nani's early opener.
But Wayne Rooney then netted an injury-time equaliser for Premier League
champions United to level the scores at 2-2 and set up a penalty shoot-out,
which Chelsea won as Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra failed from the spot.
Nani opened the scoring when hitting a long-range, right-footed effort past
Petr Cech, who could have done better, in the 10th minute.
United then slipped into the groove which has earned three back-to-back
top-flight titles as both Park Ji-sung and Dimitar Berbatov forced fine
saves from Cech.
However, new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti saw his side keep Sir Alex
Ferguson's men at bay until half-time and they were rewarded for their
efforts with an equaliser in the 52nd minute.
Carvalho, who was linked with Inter Milan in the summer, charged forward
and, after Foster collided with Didier Drogba when attempting to punch
clear, the centre-back dived to head Florent Malouda's cross into an
unguarded net.
Chelsea then took the lead in debatable circumstances as Lampard netted from
16 yards after a quick, 71st minute break, but United were upset that play
had not been stopped after Michael Ballack grounded Evra in the build-up.
United, though, hit back in stoppage time of a thoroughly entertaining match
as Rooney collected a pass from substitute Giggs to brilliantly dink over
Cech and set up a tense shoot-out.
Chelsea duly held their nerve and gained revenge for their defeat to United
on penalties in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final as Giggs and Evra saw
their tame efforts saved.
In contrast to the ill-feeling in the later stages of the contest, the
afternoon had begun in a more fitting fashion with one minute's applause for
the late Sir Bobby Robson.
Bright start
When the action began on the pitch, United goalkeeper Foster was tested
within the opening two minutes.
Drogba collected a pass from Lampard and fired a 20-yard shot towards goal
but Foster, selected in the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against
Holland, saved at the second attempt.
It was a bright start by Chelsea as Lampard's corner was met by right-back
Branislav Ivanovic, whose effort was headed against the bar by Evra.
But United took the lead with their first real attack of the game in the
10th minute.
Darren Fletcher's sublime cross-field pass was collected by Nani and the
Portugal winger beat Ivanovic and Michael Essien before sending a 25-yard
drive beyond Cech and into the far right corner.
United should have made it 2-0 in the 16th minute when Berbatov crossed for
Rooney to head the ball back to Park on the edge of the six-yard box.
Park was thwarted by a great save from Cech, and the Chelsea goalkeeper then
pulled off another excellent save moments later when the South Korean
midfielder set Berbatov through on goal.
Chelsea were beginning to exert some control as the interval approached but
they failed to find a cutting edge.
That lack of precision was underlined again five minutes before the break
when Nicolas Anelka sent a drive just wide of Foster's left-hand post.
A cross from Ivanovic moments later failed to trouble Foster even through
Drogba lurked with intent.
Struggle
Three minutes before the break, Cech had to be at his best again to tip a
20-yard shot from Fletcher over the bar.
Chelsea replaced the struggling Ivanovic with Jose Bosingwa at the start of
the second half, and equalised in the 52nd minute through Carvalho's diving
header.
Lampard and Malouda had combined on the left and when the latter sent over a
volleyed cross, Drogba and Foster collided as they went for the ball.
Foster's attempted clearance fell straight to Carvalho, who dived to head
the Blues level from eight yards.
Chelsea were full of confidence and Anelka soon tested Foster with a
powerful 20-yard drive that the United goalkeeper did well to push away to
safety.
In the 59th minute Drogba was inches away from meeting a cross from Ashley
Cole as Ancelotti's side continued to control the game.
United were rocked by an injury to goalscorer Nani on the hour. The winger
hurt his shoulder in a clash with John Terry and was replaced by Antonio
Valencia.
Three minutes later Chelsea replaced John Mikel Obi with Germany captain
Ballack.
The London outfit took the lead in circumstances which are bound to create a
talking point in the 71st minute after Ballack appeared to elbow Evra but
referee Chris Foy to not stop play.
While the United player was down, Chelsea broke away and Drogba's pass to
Lampard allowed the England midfielder space to beat Foster with a crisp
drive. The ball struck the inside of the left post and bounced over the line
before spinning back out.
With seconds remaining Rooney broke clear of the Chelsea defence and slipped
the ball beyond Cech for a dramatic equaliser.
But United were not so clinical in the shoot-out as only Michael Carrick
scored, and Giggs and Evra's failures were punished by Lampard, Ballack,
Drogba and Kalou.
Chelsea |
Team Statistics |
Manchester United |
2 |
Goals |
2 |
0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
7 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
4 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
6 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
3 |
Corners |
5 |
12 |
Fouls |
13 |
0 |
Offsides |
3 |
1 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
78.3 |
Passing Success |
79.4 |
22 |
Tackles |
20 |
68.2 |
Tackles Success |
60 |
47.6 |
Possession |
52.4 |
53.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
46.4 |
Manchester United
Foster, O’Shea (Da Silva 76),
Ferdinand, Evra, Evans, Carrick, Fletcher (Scholes 75), Park (Giggs 75),
Nani (Valenci 62), Berbatov (Owen 75), Rooney
Subs Not Used Kuszczak, Gibson
Booked
Berbatov, Evra, Owen
Goals
Nani 10, Rooney 90
Chelsea
Cech, A.
Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Ivanovic (Bosingwa 46), Lampard, Essien, Malouda
(Deco 77), Mikel (Ballack 65), Anelka (Kalou 83), Drogba
Subs Not Used Hilario,
Belletti, Alex
Booked
Ivanovic
Goals
Carvalho 52, Lampard 71
Attendance 85,896
Referee C. Foy