Match Report - Chelsea 1-3 United

Competition: FA Community Shield
Kick-Off & Date: 3pm, Sunday 8th August
Venue: Wembley, London (Neutral)
Attendance: 84, 623


Manchester United claimed their first competitive silverware of the new season, with a reassuring 3-1 victory over Chelsea. Antonio Valencia tore Ashley Cole to shreds on the right flank, and scored in the process - thanks to a smart pass from Wayne Rooney in the first half.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez then scored an unusual goal after half-time, before Salomon Kalou gave The Reds a late scare. But Dimitar Berbatov - who was very quite, until the 92nd minute that is - chipped Henrique Hilario to give Sir Alex's men a mental boost ahead of the new Premier League season...

Nemanja Vidic was named as skipper, with Michael Carrick the surprise addition to the starting XI - after suffering a twisted ankle during the week. Paul Scholes was arguably man-of-the-match, as he put in a great shift in midfield.

Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen started the first 45 minutes up-front, and both had scoring chances. Scholes had a great opening chance, with Valencia picking him out on the edge of the box in space - but the 35-year-old veteran blazed over the bar.

Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic both forced saves from an in-form Edwin Van Der Sar, with Hilario scrambling back when Rooney fired across goal - but Owen couldn't get to the ball before it rolled-out over the dead ball line.

4 minutes before the interval, Scholes floated a long-ball to Rooney, who turned and smacked a ball into the box through John Terry's legs - where Valencia arrived, and passed the ball into the back of the net, reading Wazza's mind, in effect !

Chicharito, Berbatov and Luis Nani entered the fray for Rooney, Owen and Ji-Sung Park. Minutes later Didier Drogba and Danny Sturridge came on for John Obi Mikel and Nicolas Anelka.

Drogba didn't do as much as was expected of him, but Sturridge did more. The young Blues' striker forced a good save from Van Der Sar, who was looking unbeatable. Moments afterwards, Valencia raced down the right flank from John O'Shea's pass...

The Ecuadorian winger flew past a useless Cole, and crossed into the box. Chicharito ran onto the ball at the back post with his shot ricochet off of his face and into the net. Nevertheless, a goal is a goal.

Kalou scored what would turn out to be only a consolation, after Van Der Sar palmed away a shot from Sturridge. The Blues fans were roaring for an equailiser, as Chelsea came forward on quite a few occasions after the 83 minutes goal.

After Carlo Ancelotti's side pushed for a leveler that would have taken both sides into penalties, United broke. Nani held-up the ball, while Berba made a run into the box - Nani flicked the ball onto the Bulgarian striker - who finished fantastically, chipping Hilario to put the game to bed.

Sir Alex and his team picked-up their first competitive silverware of the season, with a physical and physiological boost also attached to the 3-1 victory. A sign of more thinks to come ? - you better believe it !

• Video Highlights: Chelsea 1-3 United