Chelsea and United Set the Tone

It’s finally here. After three months without Premier League football, Manchester United and Chelsea raised the curtain on the 2009-2010 campaign Sunday in the F.A. Community Shield. The outcome of the game was inconsequential — Chelsea won on penalties after a 2-2 draw — but it provided plenty to whet your appetite before the season kicks off on Saturday.

Right on cue, it delivered controversy, conflict, and drama — plenty to leave Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson smoldering after the game.

United took an early lead through Nani before Ricardo Carvalho equalized for Chelsea on a header. Until then, it had just been your usual physical, sometimes bad-tempered, big four affair. But the sparks began to fly after Frank Lampard gave the Blues the lead in the 71st minute. Lampard charged toward the goal after Michael Ballack had obviously fouled United defender Patrice Evra without a whistle from the referee. And, while Evra lay on the ground, Lampard tucked the ball home.

It took Wayne Rooney, United’s most potent offensive threat in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, to provide the final twist of regulation. With virtually the last kick in stoppage time, Rooney pulled United back to 2-2.

But United’s performance from the penalty spot was far less clinical as Chelsea and their in-form goalkeeper Petr Cech shut them down to win 4-1. It meant that new manager Carlo Ancelotti began his tenure in London with some silverware — insignificant as it may be — and more importantly set the tone for what will surely be a tighter season than last year.

Chelsea faded in the second half of the 2008-2009 run, but seem more resilient this time around and could be United’s stiffest competition for the title. Liverpool has not done much to improve its squad, though it was already fairly sound, while Arsenal’s young team has yet to prove itself.

Expect to see United and Chelsea fighting tooth an nail again next April. And by then, it will certainly mean something.