United Champs, Blues Chumps!

Chelsea 1 Man Utd 1

CHE: Malouda (45') MU: Giggs (35')

(United win 3-0 on penalties)

Despite being only a charity event, fans from both camps got their ticket's worth as an exciting encounter unfolded between United and Chelsea for the FA Community Shield with United clinching it on penalties after goals from Ryan Giggs and Florent Malouda ended the match in a stalemate.

The hero of the night however, would have to be veteran keeper Edwin Van Der Sar as his flawless performance in the penalty shootout single-handedly captured the Shield for a United squad missing the likes of Scholes, Neville and Saha. Another notable absentee was new signing Hargreaves who was thought to be included in the team sheet.

As much as the old superstition goes that the Shield is a jinx to it's holder for the season, it is hard to believe that such a curse would hold up judging from the gutsy performance that the United squad put up against an 'oil-rich' Chelsea team.

Football purists must have enjoyed the pace and aggression that was displayed in the match and everyone will surely now be salivating at the prospect of the EPL season kicking off next weekend as United take on Reading and the Blues take on newly-promoted Brimingham.

News Round-up (03/08 to 05/08)

Young Devils claim victory
New signing Anderson made a 45-min debut as a youthful looking United side fought their way through to a well earned 2-0 win over League One counterparts, Doncaster Rovers. Goals came in the 2nd half from Darren Gibson and Sean Evans to cap off an assured performance in attack and at the back from the United team.

Smith ends United tenure at OT
Yorkshire-man Alan Smith will be plying his trade at St James Park this coming season as the deal taking him to Newcastle United has been finalized at an undisclosed fee. Smith will be likely to make his debut in a friendly against Sampdoria on Sunday.

Tevez joins the boys in training
After the West Ham's agreement to a 2 million pound settlement, Carlos Tevez has been given the all-clear to move to OT and began training on Friday with the United squad in preparation for a targeted debut in the Dunfermline friendly next Wednesday. He will be likely to miss the Community Shield showdown on Sunday but the news of his transfer must surely be a relief to players, staff and fans all over as he looks set to be unveiled some time next mid-week.

Hargo makes debut!
Another young squad was fielded less than 24 hours after the Doncaster match to record a emphatic 3-1 victory against minnows Peterboro - managed by Sir Alex Ferguson's son, Darren. However, the highlight of the match must have been the introduction of former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves at half time to make his first appearance in a United shirt since his 17 million pound move from the Bavarian club. Adam Eckersley and Ritchie Jones netted goals earlier on before a wonder strike from Chinese national Dong Fangzhuo in the 77th minute wrapped the match up for the Reds.

Man United 2 Inter Milan 3

It was an exciting 90-min enounter at Old Trafford between EPL kings United and Serie A champions Inter Milan as the Italians finished the night victorious in front of a friendly record crowd of 73,738 in attendance.

2 goals from new Inter signing David Suazo and another from Sweden's golden boy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic served as a reminder to United staff and players that despite the riches of talent in attack and midfield, the Devils defence can still be vulnerable and left exposed at times at the back.

However, they did manage to put in a better performance in the second half as an own goal from Adriano made the match a tighter affair. A goal from Rooney earlier on was one of the bright sparks of the match for United as they will definitely see this as the first real test in pre-season despite recently concluding the Far East tour of Asia.

Next up, United will be in action against Doncaster Rovers tomorrow with new signings Anderson, Nani and Hargreaves all penciled in to the team sheet. This will be the last match before the curtain-raiser against Chelsea in the FA Community Shield on Sunday.

United: Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Eagles, Carrick, O'Shea; Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs.Substitutes: Martin, Fletcher, Bardsley, Silvestre, Kuszczak.
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Inter: J Cesar (Toldo, 76); Maxwell (Fatic, 90), Materazzi (Cesar, 46), Samuel, Chivu; Dacourt (Filicor, 76), Solari (Defenclous), Figo (Jiminez), Stankovic; Ibrahimovic (Adriano, 46), Suazo (Cruz, 60).Substitutes: Fatic, Balotelli, Bolzoni.

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Rossi to Villareal, Smith in talks with Newcastle

Giueseppe Rossi is set to move Spain as deal for the American-born Italian has been agreed with La Liga outfit, Villareal. The transfer - believed to be around 10 million euros - signals Sir Alex Ferguson's confidence in Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez impending arrival to United. Rossi will complete his move over the next couple of days subject to a medical.

Elsewhere, former Leeds man, Alan Smith, has been reportedly been in talks with Newcastle staff to try and finalize an agreement for his move to Tyneside for the coming season. Waiting in the wings is Everton who are believed to have made room in their squad for the signing of Smith to Goodison Park.