The Community Shield was prised from United’s grasp in an enthralling clash at Wembley, a game that required a penalty shoot-out to separate two evenly-matched sides. Despite this defeat, 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time, the Reds' performance provides plenty of promise for the season ahead.
Nani had given United the lead with a long-range effort after just ten minutes, then Ricardo Carvalho equalised shortly after half-time. But in a competition that used to be called the Charity Shield, there was little charity in Chelsea’s second. As Patrice Evra lay prostrate on the ground after a bad Michael Ballack challenge, referee Chris Foy neglected to stop play and Frank Lampard scored what everyone thought was the winner. That was until substitute Ryan Giggs picked out Wayne Rooney’s run, and the Reds forward expertly finished to send the tie to the lottery of spot-kicks.
New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti experienced his first match at Wembley and in English football, but he has plenty of recent practice in facing Sir Alex Ferguson. In four Champions League games with AC Milan - Ancelotti’s last club - the Italian won three, twice knocking United out of the competition.
However, in 2004/05 the Reds were mid-transition, while 2006/07 was perhaps the final phase in the Reds’ European education. In many ways this was a different United to the one Ancelotti faced back then. With significant differences even from last year, this would undoubtedly be the first major test of how the champions can cope without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. The signs are promising.
As expected, Rooney played further forward and right down the middle, with Dimitar Berbatov starting just behind his strike partner. Elsewhere, Jonny Evans deputised for the injured NemanjaVidic while Ben Foster was favoured over Tomasz Kuszczak in place of the also sidelined Edwin van der Sar.
Foster is a bright, young hope (young in goalkeeper terms, at least) and he was immediately called to showcase his talents after two minutes, as Didier Drogba’s long-range effort was well-held by the England shot-stopper. Chelsea went even closer when, from a corner after six minutes, Branislav Ivanovic’s poked shot forced Evra to head the ball onto the crossbar and away from danger.
But it was United who broke the deadlock after ten minutes of this high-tempo contest. Nani received Fletcher’s raking pass out on the left wing, and Evra’s overlapping run created space for the Portuguese winger, who cut inside and let fly with a fierce low drive that nestled into the far corner of the net. Cristiano who? Not quite. But it was certainly a fine start in the season curtain-raiser for Nani, and for United.
The Reds were clearly in the ascendancy and Park almost made it two on 16 minutes when Berbatov’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Rooney, but unfortunately the Korean couldn’t get enough on his hooked volley. Two minutes later, Berbatov’s one-two with Park unlocked Chelsea's defence, but the Bulgarian striker's dinked finish was well stopped by Petr Cech. United continued to threaten – as did Chelsea, although more intermittently so – and the nearest either side came to the game’s second goal in the rest of a highly-entertaining first half was Fletcher’s turn and curling shot, acrobatically tipped over by Cech two minutes before the break.
The second half didn’t start at the same breakneck speed as the first, and it was Chelsea who looked sharpest. Indeed, they got an equaliser seven minutes after the restart. Play pin-balled around in the area and United couldn’t clear it,and when Foster’s attempted punch lost its power due to a collision with Drogba, Carvalho dived in and headed home. And the Reds were dealt another blow when the impressive Nani was forced off, arm in a makeshift sling made from his shirt, after a tumble following a tackle from John Terry. He was replaced by Antonio Valencia, making his first competitive appearance for the Reds.
Things got worse when Chelsea took the lead in the 70th minute in controversial circumstances. Ballack clearly blocked Evra’s run, putting his arm to the Frenchman’s face. Referee Chris Foy played advantage, but when United lost the ball he failed to stop play for a head injury. Chelsea, perhaps unsportingly, carried on with three forwards against two Reds defenders, the move ending with Lampard’s shot going in via Foster’s hand and a post. Ballack wasn't even booked after the event. Sir Alex responded with four substitutions. Park, Berbatov, Fletcher and O’Shea were replaced by Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes and Fabio.
United still rightfully felt aggrieved, particularly Evra, who earned a yellow card for a strong challenge on Ballack, one in which he got the ball, but that reeked of revenge. There looked as though there'd be no revenge in play as the match entered a third minute of added time, but then came Rooney’s intervention to take the tie to the lottery of penalties.
Lampard, Ballack, Drogba and Kalou all scored a spot-kick for Chelsea, while only Carrick did so for United with Giggs and Evra both unable to beat Petr Cech with tame efforts. And so the Blues won 4-1 from 12 yards, avenging their 2007 defeat in this competition, although not their loss in Moscow just over a year ago.
Defeat, as always, brings disappointment, but the Reds can certainly be heartened by the overall display.
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