The Aftermath: United and Chelsea at Wembley

The Breakdown
A match which started off-the-pace for everyone involved, United see off Chelsea 3-1 in a match that showed the shades of a real Premiership match. Valencia, Chicharito and Berbatov with the goals. (Chicharito scoring an exquisite, ahem, header?)

United kick-off with Rooney and Owen, the ball finds its way to Scholes who looks up and attempts to find Valencia—and the ball goes harmlessly out of play. This seems to be the way the game would pan out for the next 20 or so minutes.

A gilt-edged chance fell to Scholes at around 10 minutes after a nice cut-back from Valencia. No-one around him, and Scholes could only smash it a couple of feet above the bar. But hey, that's what the first game of the season's like.

van der Sar was called to action after O'Shea lost the ball and Anelka broke—the ball bouncing just in front of Edwin who could only manage to parry it dangerously ahead of him, with Kalou bearing down—no harm done, though.

But the Dutchman made amends (if we can even call it something to try and make up for), making a neat save from Branislav Ivanovic's header from a corner - the first of a few for Vida's defensive partner for Serbia.

A few almost-chances, a few 80%-complete moves litter the rest of the half. To be completely honest, the expected "Ah, he should've continued that run", "Can't quite match his speed.", "Didn't read the play well enough" comments were very much applicable to the first half.

But then, in typical United fashion, Scholes does what he does best, his diagonal over Terry sets the Roo off—who took one look, saw Valencia on his way into the gap that Terry left, squares it right into his path and Valencia duly smashes it home. 1-0 United.



Berbatov, Nani and CHICHARITO!! on at the break for Owen, Rooney and Park. And immediately, the new boys start the second half brightly.

Chelsea seem to find their rhythm, though, and test United's backline - van der Sar being called into action a total of 7 times throughout the game.

But it was not to be for the blues, and Chicharito had a goal on his "debut" in England - Valencia in space down the right flank—as always—drives into the box and whips a ball across the face of the goal and Javier says "Y'know what? I'm tired of scoring with my feet..." and does something which seems comical but in actuality takes a hell of a lot of skill - he crosses the ball to himself and heads in it, or kicks it into his face - whichever way YOU saw it, it was 2-0 to United and everyone's delighted that the man's got his goal.

Pressure was still mounted on United's goal, though, after Smalling's introduction in place of Fabio meant that Evans had the task of looking after Sturridge on Chelsea's right, and he fashioned a glorious opportunity—through on goal from Essien's pass which cuts our defence rather ominously open—but van der Sar was equal to his effort, and the game remained firmly in United's grasp.

But yet again, Sturridge is free down the right, cuts inside and rasps a shot towards Edwin, who can only parry it in the direction of Kalou—an onfield charity case, and he readily slots it home to give Chelsea, and the crowd, a real boost.

All in all, though, it was United's day. And after a session of keep-ball close to the left corner, Nani holds, flicks it to Berbatov - who really really impressed me, along with Chicharito - keeper rushes, Berbatov lobs, game is over.

Reaction
What can I say? The guy's a genius. Chicharito, whose pace, control and general movement confused the opposition defence really shone today, after coming on at the break. And though, for the most part, Chelsea's defence seemed more solid - only letting 7 shots in total, 4 on target, slip past their defensive unit [compared to United 15:7 (shot:on-target)] - we can take away some positives today; and, y'know, the Community Shield.

The movement in the midfield - MoM Paul Scholes - probably led to United's victory. There was always someone who could receive, someone to offload to, runs to be made. And against Chelsea, that's a pretty good sign, in my books, irrespective of what you have to say about the relaxed nature of the Community Shield.

Ahhhh, I'm pleased. Fantastic result—and based on the results of the previous 3 Community Shields, the winner's gone on to win the League. Good omen? I think so.