Chelsea feel the Blues

Manchester United have the first bragging rights at the beginning of the 2007/08 season as they saw off Chelsea in the FA Community Shield after the match went down to penalties.

Manchester United will consider the victory revenge for last season’s FA Cup final defeat at the hands of their London rivals after losing in extra time to the Blues in a dull affair.

This seasons Community shield match was a far livelier match. It was Manchester United who opened the scoring in the first half when Ryan Giggs coolly finished from 14 yards. A 40 yard ball across the pitch from Rio Ferdinand found Patrice Evra and after a neat one-two and some clever foot work, Evra pulled the ball back from the byline for Giggs to side foot the ball into the top corner, leaving keeper Chelsea Petr Cech with no chance.

Chelsea’s reply came from new boy Florent Malouda. The French winger, who had looked lively all game, latched onto a nice through ball from left back Ashley Cole. He showed great strength and pace to see off his defender and bravely nipped in to just beat Edwin Van Der Sar to ball and poke it inside the far post. It was a great finish from the Frenchman on his debut to take the game to extra time.

Both sides cancelled each other out in the 30 minutes of extra time and the game ended up with a penalty shoot-out. The shoot-out did not last for long as United's hero of the day, Edwin Van Der Sar saved Chelsea’s three penalties and Manchester United scored all three of theirs, with England star Wayne Rooney claiming the winner to preserve Sir Alex Fergusons 100% record in Community Shield penalty shoot-outs.

This victory gives Fergie’s men the perfect stepping stone for the new season but Jose Mourinho and Chelsea will certainly not be doing United any favours when the new Premiership season starts this weekend.