Masterful Display:

“They played better than us,” said Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti after Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United had inflicted a comprehensive 3-1 defeat in the Community Shield at Wembley this afternoon. “They were better than us.” He believed that his team was two weeks away from fitness.

A Man of the Match performance from veteran midfielder Paul Scholes was the difference between Manchester United and Chelsea. “Scholes is a fantastic player,” said Ancelotti. “Maybe we gave him more possibilities to play well, because we didn’t put strong pressure on. He showed fantastic touch. I agree that he was the Man of the Match.”

Scholes was fortunate to escape with just a talking to after an early lunge at Florent Malouda, but the combative midfielder showed the best side of his game with a sumptuous cross-field pass to Wayne Rooney on the right flank, which led to the first goal. Ferguson paid tribute to his talismanic midfielder after yet another match-winning display.

Goal:

Rooney picked out Antonio Valencia in the box and the Ecuadorian made no mistake. United preserved their slender lead until half time. Scholes was involved in the second too. His pass found Valencia who set up substitute Javier Hernández for an easy goal that the Mexican almost contrived a way to miss. Substitute Daniel Sturridge hauled Chelsea back into the game, inducing an error from the ever dependable Edwin van der Sar.

Salomon Kalou scored easily, but it proved just a consolation as Dimitar Berbatov finally proved his class with a delightful injury-time lob to ensure that Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the first silverware of the season.

Flops:

Over half an hour before the opening goal Rooney splayed a cross-field pass to Valencia, but his chip failed to test Chelsea keeper Henrique Hilario, deputising for the injured Czech international Petr Čech. Clear cut chances were at a premium – probably the best fell to Branislav Ivanović after 15 minutes from Malouda’s free-kick. His header from 8 yards out was clawed away by van der Sar.  United tried to respond immediately, but Rooney scuffed his shot. Ji-sung Park had a presentable appeal for a penalty against Ivanović turned down, but it didn’t really matter.

England’s World Cup flops were reminded of their failings by an unforgiving crowd that jeered their every touch. They’ll have to win the fans over again, but there were other World Cup misfits on display this afternoon too. Malouda and club colleague Nicolas Anelka had a wretched tournament for France. Anelka retired from international football after being sent home and Malouda is one of those banned by new coach Laurent Blanc from his first squad.

La Côte d’Ivoire flattered to deceive again in South Africa as well, despite boasting the best paid coach in the competition Sven-Göran Eriksson. He has been shown the door. Jon Obi Mikel had the consolation of missing out on Nigeria’s woeful performance through injury. “Mikel is fit because Mike start to train 5th of July,” said Ancelotti. Lars Lagerbäck’s poor performance for his native Sweden was underwhelming. Only his torrid performance with the Super-Eagles surpassed it, if that is the right word. He is not welcome in Nigeria, but Milovan Rajevac enhanced his reputation. It required blatant cheating to rob him and the Black Stars of their destiny.

Michael Essien missed Ghana’s historic run, but has regained fitness now.  “Essien was the first game for 90 minutes after 8 months,” said Ancelotti. “This is a fantastic news for us. Drogba come back 26th. It’s again two weeks to be fit.”

Jockeying for Position:

Kalou had the first real chance of the match after five minutes when van der Sar spilled a long range effort. Kalou’s shot resembled a cross that Mikel could not profit from. Two minutes into the second period Malouda had van der Sar scurrying across his goal, but the Frenchman’s effort from outside the area went just wide. Shortly afterwards Scholes – who else – picked out substitute Javier Hernández. The Mexican’s exquisite back-heeled reverse pass created an opportunity that Berbatov should have converted.

Neat footwork by Drogba almost fashioned a chance for Malouda, but van der Sar smothered the danger. However, the veteran Dutch keeper gifted a chance to Ashley Cole that the World Cup failure wasted with a weak side-footed effort that posed no danger.

End Game:

Hernández doubled Manchester United’s lead in bizarre fashion. Valencia turned provider on the left flank to offer the Mexican an open goal. If Hernández tried to do this again he would fail. With 15 minutes remaining he completely mishit his shot, but it rebounded off his face into the empty net. “He’s so quick to get there, his speed took him past the ball, but he’ll take that every time,” said Ferguson. “Strikers are strikers. They like to score.” He had a decent World Cup too.

Chelsea responded through substitute Daniel Sturridge. His long range effort required a good save from van der Sar, but the young striker would not be denied. On 83 minutes Sturridge let another long-range shot fly. Van der Sar parried it but this time into the path of the on-rushing Kalou who made no mistake and set up a grand-stand finale.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, neither Nani, nor Berbatov had read their script. “He’s got fantastic ability,” said Ferguson about the mercurial Bulgarian international. “He’s one I think the press picked on.” This afternoon, you could see why Ferguson had faith in Berbatov and Nani too. The Portuguese winger released the Bulgarian striker to deliver a quality finish that will help lift his confidence by lobbing the stranded Hilario in injury time.

Meanwhile, Scholes had another medal to add to his extensive collection. “He’s had a lot of injuries,” said Ferguson, who also said that he was happy with his squad and didn’t need to add to it. “He keeps coming back. He goes out there and becomes man of the match just short of his 36th birthday.”