The FA Community Shield
5 August 2007
Chelsea 1 - Manchester United 1
(Manchester United win 3-0 on penalties)
Attendance: 80,731
Wembley Stadium welcomed the start of the 2007/08 football season with The FA Community Shield between FA Cup holders Chelsea and Premier League winners Manchester United. The match was a repeat of the last Community Shield at the old stadium in 2000, with Chelsea running out 2-0 winners. The brand new pitch provided the perfect playing surface for the match as the sun shone on the stadium. The fans were in great voice creating an electric atmosphere for the first silverware on offer this season.
Chelsea were led out by stand-in skipper Frank Lampard with John Terry looking to miss the start of the campaign with a knee injury. Chelsea also welcomed back defender Glen Johnson after spending last season on loan at Portsmouth. Manchester United fielded a more tried and tested starting 11, with Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney leading the attack.
Having enjoyed the best of the chances in the first half, Manchester United scored first with the ever-reliable left foot of Giggs converting a Patrice Evra cross in the 35th minute. Previous chances had come from Cristiano Ronaldo, Evra and Giggs. Michael Essien had come closest for the Blues before new signing Florent Malouda produced a great solo effort and scored from a tight angle just before half-time.
Manchester United applied some early pressure in the second half and came close with a series of free kicks. Chelsea enjoyed an equal share of possession with their best attack with a long range shot from Claudio Pizzaro that curled right.
Both teams had good spells of possession in a very open game with United enjoying the best of the chances. As the final whistle loomed, it was becoming clear that this year’s Shield would be decided by penalties. The penalties took place in the goal in front of the Chelsea fans in the west end of the stadium. Chelsea went first as Edwin Var Der Saar saved Pizarro’s penalty. Rio Ferdinand then scored and Chelsea’s fate seemed doomed after Lampard’s penalty was also saved. Michael Carrick then continued the good run for United as Chelsea missed again from Shaun Wright-Phillips. Rooney then stepped up and scored the winning penalty, beating Chelsea 3-0.
Football returns to Wembley on 22 August as England take on Germany in a friendly match. Germany were England’s last opponents at the old stadium, coming out 1-0 winners in a 2002 World Cup qualifier. England will be keen to get revenge on their rivals and prepare for the 2008 European Championship qualifiers this autumn.