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LONDON, August 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Inspired Didier Drogba scored twice to give
Chelsea an enjoyable 2-1 victory against Arsenal in the Community Shield at The
Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday.
Drogba scored in each half to cap a fine performance and it was enough to
give Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho his first trophy of the season despite Cesc
Fabregas' consolation strike for The Gunners.
It took just eight minutes for the traditional season curtain-raiser to
explode into action and it was Chelsea that fired home a reminder of why they
are the reigning Premiership champions.
Drogba has been hurt by criticism of his scoring record last season, but he looked
composed and clinical when Philippe Senderos lost the striker from Cote
d'Ivoire who took a long ball superbly on his chest and fired home early across
Jens Lehmann for the opener.
A minute later striker Thierry Henry, promoted to captain following the
sale of Patrick Vieira, tried to inject his own magic into the game, teeing up
the ball and volleying on the turn,only to watch Petr Cech deal comfortably with
his effort.
The French international then perhaps chose the wrong option on17 minutes
when he opted to cross from Freddie Ljungberg's fine reverse ball after Eidur
Gudjohnsen's error had presented the Swede with the ball.
For those that doubted that there would be a bite in this game,a feisty
clash between Fabregas and Claude Makelele remedied that,with both booked for a
pushing match that sucked in several players from both sides.
Kolo Toure had the best chance for Arsenal before the break, his fine run
allowing him the time to latch onto a Henry pass and bring a fine acrobatic save
from Cech with a drive from the edge of the box.
There was still time for Mathieu Flamini to find himself in space following
a good Arsenal move, but the young French midfielder's first touch was heavy,
and his eventual shot was blocked.
The second half brought a spate of substitutions from Arsenal with troubled
Dutchman Robin van Persie, Gilberto and new signing Alexander Hleb entering the
heat of battle.
Arsenal piled on the pressure, although they were grateful thatArjen Robben
opted to run at Senderos rather than pass early in the half.
But yet again The Gunners were hit by a long ball, Gudjohnsen flicking on
with aplomb with Drogba on hand to take the ball on.
The striker rode a clumsy challenge from Senderos, rounded Lehmann and
opted to stay on his feet as Lauren cut across him when he could have fallen for
a penalty, benefiting from his decision by turning and firing home his second of
the game.
Arsenal needed a quick response and they got one. Ljungberg found some
width to cross and a kind touch off a Chelsea defender set the ball up perfectly
for young midfielder Fabregas to slot home first time.
It was end-to-end football by now, and Ashley Cole was fortunate that his
over-casual flick of a low cross ran behind thelurking Robben, before more
substitutions from both sides saw the arrival of Chelsea's summer signing Shaun
Wright-Phillips and Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes.
Hleb's first meaningful contribution saw him skip down the right before
laying the ball on for van Persie who fired wide, andat the other end Pascal
Cygan's blushes were spared when another substitute Hernan Crespo charged down
his attempted clearance but could not take full advantage.
Lehmann made a hash of a Lampard drive but was not punished, and Henry was afforded time to shoot but could not beat Cech, rolling a rather tame effort that the Chelsea keeper collected with ease. Enditem |