On 9th August, Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United take on FA Cup holders Chelsea at Wembley, to do battle for the first piece of silverware of the season, writes Claire Harmer.
With both sides hoping to impress in the 2009/10 season, they will be looking to get the new term off to a great start by lifting the FA Community Shield.
It will be the fourth time in the shield's history that the Red Devils go head-to-head with the Blues.
Having been rivals in the Premier League title hunt in recent years, meetings between the two clubs are often hotly contested as each side looks to outdo the other.
They pair last met two years ago, when United won 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time. In the first Community Shield match to be played at the new Wembley Stadium, Ryan Giggs scored the opener before Florent Malouda equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was the hero of the penalty shoot-out, saving all of Chelsea's three spot-kicks, coming from Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard and Shaun Wright-Phillips. Strikes from Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney where enough to seal the win for United.
In 2000, back when the match was still known as the Charity Shield, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mario Melchiot netted for then FA Cup holders Chelsea.
The two clubs challenged for the trophy for the first time in 1997. United's Ronny Johnsen cancelled out (now Blackburn Rovers manager) Mark Hughes' opener for Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson's men prevailed in the penalty shoot out, comfortably beating Ruud Gullit's men 4-2, with current West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola finding the back of the net for the Blues with his spot-kick.
In the two meetings between the sides in the Barclays Premier League last season, Manchester United came out on top, winning the Old Trafford encounter 3-0, while honours where shared in the match at Stamford Bridge after a 1-1 draw.
Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson will have to call on the services of one of either Ben Foster or Tomasz Kuszczak after number one choice goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was ruled out for eight weeks after surgery on a broken hand.
Chelsea: Michael Ballack has made a quicker than expected recovery from a fractured toe and is available to play at Wembley.
Referee: Chris Foy
Assistant Referee: Philip Sharp
Assistant Referee: Simon Beck
Fourth Official: Lee Mason
Reserve Assistant: Andy Newbold.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar