First blood to Chelsea after United fluff shoot-out lines
CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti declared himself ready to launch an assault on Manchester United’s Premier League crown after beating the champions in yesterday’s Community Shield at Wembley.
Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech saved two penalties as Ancelotti’s men won a shoot-out 4-1, after the traditional curtain-raiser to the top-flight season ended in an entertaining draw.
Goals from defender Ricardo Carvalho and a controversial Frank Lampard strike saw Chelsea come from behind, after Nani put United in front early on.
And although Wayne Rooney slotted a stoppage-time equaliser, he could not deny new boss Ancelotti a first taste of Blues glory.
“It’s an important start to the season because we have changed the way the team plays a bit. I’m very happy not only for this month but also for this past month,” said the former AC Milan head coach, who denied making an offer for his former player Alexandre Pato.
“I now know the players, I like their mental attitude and I like the organisation of the club. We’re ready to start a very important season for us and we are ready to do our best.”
United manager Ferguson, meanwhile, fumed at Lampard’s goal, which came while Patrice Evra lay prostrate following what appeared to be a body-check from Blues midfielder Michael Ballack.
“That incident cost us the game really,” said Ferguson. “I asked the referee, he said he thought it was a serious incident. Once he has done that, I do not understand why he has not stopped the game when Evra is lying down.” Nani, later withdrawn with a dislocated shoulder that will see him miss next week’s opener against Birmingham, cut inside from the left to fire a low 25-yard shot into the far corner on 10 minutes.
United goalkeeper Ben Foster palmed a cross onto Carvalho’s head for the equaliser just after half-time, and then allowed Lampard’s powerful but saveable shot to slip through his hands in the 71st minute.
Ryan Giggs slipped Rooney clear to level and force penalties, but the veteran winger and Evra failed to beat Cech, allowing Salomon Kalou to net the winning spot-kick.