2006 Community Shield Winners
The Premiership champions. The FA Cup champions. The Millennium Stadium. Chelsea vs Liverpool in a mouth-watering clash as a prequel to the upcoming season.
Before the match, Jose Mourinho claimed that Liverpool will be shamed and embarrassed if they lost to a 50% fit Chelsea side. How does he feel now that a far stronger Chelsea team (on paper) lost to a 50% fit Liverpool side?
Many supporters looked at the Chelsea side and were in awe: A full strength team, consisting of Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Ballack, Arjen Robben, Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko, just to name a few, stepped out of the tunnel. "50% fit" he said.
Then they looked at the Liverpool side and were surprised: No Gerrard, no Alonso, no Hyypia, no Bellamy, and there was a second-choice central-midfield partnership of Mohamed Sissoko and Boudewijn Zenden. From the start, it already looked as if Chelsea were going to pummel Liverpool into submission.
But it was Liverpool which got on to a brighter start in the first half. With Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez speeding down the flanks and the ever-present Momo Sissoko winning every challenge in midfield, Chelsea were on the backfoot. The excellent backline of Liverpool, led by captain Carragher, held their own, catching Chelsea offside 5 times in the first 30 minutes.
It was no surprise as to who was going to score first. But it was the manner in which the goal was scored that surprised everyone. From a Chelsea corner, Lampard overhits his cross and Riise is allowed to sprint out of the box with the ball. He takes the ball over the halfway line, surprised at his lack of support and lack of challenges from Chelsea. As he nears the goal, the defenders continue to back off and back off, so from 35 yards he takes a crack. "I caught it sweet," Riise said in an interview after the match. And how sweet it was. The ball dipped into the ground and cruelly bounced just in front of Carlo Cudicini, making it even harder for him to anticipate the flight of the ball. He should have saved it, he just couldn't. After 9 minutes, it was 1-0 to Liverpool in Cardiff.
Soon after, Michael Ballack got injured in his hip area and had to cut his Chelsea debut short. Salomon Kalou, a player widely-tipped to be a world class striker, took his place in the centre of the park.
Liverpool kept up the pressure after their goal, and nearly scored a second when Mark Gonzalez put a wonderful cross into the box, but Luis Garcia and Peter Crouch stumbled over each other, looping the ball over and giving Cudicini an easy save as he tipped it over the bar for a corner. However, Chelsea aren't champions for nothing. It was inevitable that they would strike back, it was just a question of when, and in the 43rd minute, the 30 million pounds investment by Chelsea paid back some of his price tag with a clinical finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Frank Lampard found some space in the middle of the field and with an excellent lofted pass, found Andriy Shevchenko, who beat the offside trap with a well-timed run. He killed the flight of the ball instantly with his chest and once he had the ball under control, at his feet, one-on-one with the keeper, there was no doubting that it would end up in the back of the net. Even with Carragher pestering him from behind and Reina guessing where he would place the ball, he coolly slotted the ball into the right-hand corner. Wonderful goal.
The second half began and Chelsea were building their momentum, with Dider Drogba coming close with a cross-shot, only to see Pepe Reina tip his effort over the bar. From the ensuing corner, Shevchenko created a header virtually out of nothing, but Reina was on hand to deny the Ukranian, diving quickly to his left to push his shot wide.
Liverpool were not going to sit back and soak up the pressure though: they wanted another goal. In came the big guns, with Aurelio for Gonzalez, Gerrard for Zenden, Alonso for Pennant and Bellamy for Garcia. Here was where the tide shifted in Liverpool's favour; their somewhat "reserve" team had managed to hold Chelsea for a full hour of the game and now Liverpool had their big players on the field against Chelsea's second-stringers (Diarra, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Bridge, Obi-Mikel).
Bellamy was a threat to the Chelsea defence everytime he got the ball, winning several free kicks for Alonso, Aurelio and Gerrard to attempt strikes at goal, or set-plays. It was Bellamy who set up Crouch for the winner in the 80th minute, as he took the ball down the byline and produced a magnificent cross for Crouch to head it pass Cudicini. It was harder to miss then to score, such was the brilliance of the cross.
Chelsea were desperate to win but they could not penetrate Liverpool's stubborn defence, with Momo Sissoko looking excellent in midfield with his no-nonsense tackles and wonderfull ball winning displays. Aurelio came close to adding a third but his swerving shot was not hit hard enough and Cudicini managed to push it around the post.
The final whistle blew, and Liverpool were the Community Shield winners. With such an excellent display in the Millennium Stadium, even at a 50% fitness level (unlike Chelsea that day), surely Jose Mourinho has to concede that Liverpool are genuine contenders for the title this season.
Player Ratings:
Jose Reina - 8
Composed performance from the Liverpool keeper. Saved some vital efforts from Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko to keep Chelsea at bay.
Steve Finnan - 7
Quiet display from the full back, did his job unspectacularly and well. Always the consistent performer.
John Arne Riise - 9
Excellent performance from the left back. Wonderful solo run from his own box to score the first goal. Was great defensively as well and was always a threat down the left flank which he bombarded frequently.
Jamie Carragher - 7
The captain of the day looked a little lost without his regular partner Sami Hyypia, but was great defensively as well. Marshalled his defence well as they played the offside trap to perfection.
Daniel Agger - 7
A good performance from the youngster who is widely tipped to be the next Sami Hyypia. Played some beautiful long balls from the back, and was rock solid in defence.
Jermaine Pennant - 6
Was quiet in this game, did not have a fantastic match. Looked a little threatening at times but his runs usually came to nothing. His corners and free kicks were sub-standard. Perhaps was bothered by his early knee injury.
Mark Gonzalez - 7
Like Pennant, his runs usually came to nothing, but he displayed his great speed in this match, harrying and pestering the opponent defence. Put in a few good crosses and had a few good runs down the left flank.
Mohamed Sissoko - 10
A commanding presence in midfield. He gave his all and went 100% into every tackle and challenge, winning most of the balls in the centre of the park. Looks every bit like the new Patrick Vieira everyone tips him to become in the future.
Boudewijn Zenden - 6
Not a fantastic performance in the centre of the park from Zenden. Played aimless long balls sometimes in an attempt to create a striking opportunity. Linked up well with Mark Gonzalez on the left though.
Peter Crouch - 7
An average performance from the striker. His goal could have been better taken but it was proof that his heading is improving. Linked up well with Craig Bellamy.
Luis Garcia - 6
Poor performance from the big-game player. Having scored twice against Chelsea in the Champions League and FA Cup semi-finals (Liverpool won both cups by the way), he was largely expected to pull off a big-game performance in this match. Was somewhat disappointing.
Substitutes:
Fabio Aurelio - 7
Good debut from the full back/left midfielder. Played some good balls and was one of the free kick specialists on the field. Nearly scored with a neatly caught swerving volley as well.
Steven Gerrard - 7
The captain came on and lifted the shield along with vice-captain Jamie Carragher. Played well down the right flank and was a threat whenever he moved infield.
Xabi Alonso - 7
Great defensive work from Xabi Alonso. Looked a little off at times but did his job well.
Craig Bellamy - 8
Was a menace to the Chelsea defence, running all over the place, earning free kicks and looking to threaten everytime he got the ball. Produced a wonderful cross for Peter Crouch's winner.
Florent Sinama Pongolle - 6
Did not have much to do as he only played for around 5 minutes. Held up the ball well when Liverpool were looking to waste time in the dying minutes of the game.
Final Score: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
Archangel's Man of the Match: Mohamed Sissoko
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