Man Utd win the traditional Premier League season opener by virtue of penalties in the Community Shield. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved three of Chelsea’s penalties from Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard and Shaun Wright-Phillips in a row to help secure the win. Wayne Rooney slotted in the penalty to land the silverware by placing the shot in the top left corner.
The match itself was played at the stunning Wembley Stadium and the playing conditions were superb with bright, sunny weather. The deadlock was broken by Man Utd veteran winger Ryan Giggs on the 35th minute - Nemanja Vidic found Evra with a stunning cross field ball then Evra and Ronaldo played a one-two. As Evra broke through he calmly pulled the ball back to Ryan Giggs in the penalty area. With very limited space Giggs just stroked the ball with his favoured left foot into the top of the goal, just high enough to go over Ashley Cole who was back on the line defending.
Man Utd looked good moving forward but on the 45th minute Chelsea’s Florent Malouda powerfully ran onto an Ashely Cole long ball, shrugging Rio Ferdinand aside and poked the ball home with the outside of his left foot. In all the game was un-eventful as it is still pre-season and it moved on to penalties.
Both sides were not at their strongest with Man Utd new signing Nani getting a small run out near the end but no sign of Anderson, Hargreaves or Tevez getting involved until Wednesday. Chelsea were without Didier Drogba and captain John Terry and it showed at both ends.
In all this curtain raiser is just a taster of things to come in what will be a very exciting Premier League as many teams have splashed the cash. Once it gets underway, expect weekly updates from the best football league in the world, here on eMagi.
Manchester United Team
1 Edwin van der Sar, 6 Wes Brown, 15 Nemanja Vidic, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 3 Patrice Evra, 7 Cristiano Ronaldo, 16 Michael Carrick, 22 John O’Shea, 27 Mikael Silvestre (17 Luis Nani, 67 mins), 11 Ryan Giggs (24 Darren Fletcher, 81 mins), 10 Wayne Rooney.
Subs not used: 29 Tomasz Kuszczak, 19 Gerard Pique, 26 David Bardsley, 30 Lee Martin, 33 Christopher Eagles.
Bookings: Rooney 45+2
Chelsea Team
1 Petr Cech, 2 Glen Johnson (9 Steve Sidwell, 78 mins), 22 Tal Ben Haim, 6 Ricardo Carvalho, 3 Ashley Cole (Lassana Diarra, 67 mins), 5 Michael Essien, 8 Frank Lampard, 12 John Obi Mikel, 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips, 10 Joe Cole (17 Scott Sinclair, 82 mins), 15 Florent Malouda (14 Claudio Pizarro, 51 mins).
Subs not used: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 40 Henrique Hilario, 39 Harry Worley.
Bookings: Tal Ben Haim, 34, Carvalho 63, Mikel 90+1
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Yink says:
whats with the pussy pose. they look like they are doing the posh spice pout. whats with that!
Aug 05, 2007, 4:17 pm