Sunday, August 8, 2010

9 August 2009 - The Community Shield Is A Cold Dish

On 9 August 2009, Chelsea won their fourth FA Charity/Community Shield with a victory over Manchester United. Like the 2008 Champions League Final, the match went to penalty kicks, but this time the Blues lifted the trophy.

Dating back to 1908, the Charity Shield (which was renamed the Community Shield in 2002), kicks off the League season by matching the previous season's League winner against the reigning FA Cup champion. The 2009 edition had the additional intrigue of being the first cup final to pair United and Chelsea since the 2008 Champions League Final, which United won on penalties after Chelsea captain John Terry famously slipped and missed the kick that would have given the trophy to the London club.

United, the previous season's League champions, struck first with a 10th-minute goal from Portuguese winger Nani. Chelsea, however, took a late lead after goals from Nani's compatriot, center back Ricardo Carvalho, (52') and midfielder Frank Lampard (70'). As the end of regulation neared, United striker Wayne Rooney netted in the second minute of stoppage time to send the match into extra time.

Neither side was able to break through in extra time, so they went to penalty kicks. Unlike 2008, John Terry did not attempt a kick. Chelsea's first four shooters (Lampard, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, and Solomon Kalou) converted their kicks, while United's players made only one of their first three - Michael Carrick converted in between misses by Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra - to give Chelsea the win, 2-2 (4-1).

It was a small revenge for losing the Champions League, but Chelsea gained some additional comfort by winning the Premier League that season over second-place United.

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