Manchester United started the season with a victory over Premier League rivals Chelsea in the FA Community Shield after a dramatic penalty shoot-out where veteran goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar managed to fend away three shots!

The game between two of Britain’s top teams announced to be a spectacle despite notable absences in Chelsea’s squad. Captain John Terry, strikers Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko were all out of Jose Mourinho’s plans for a first clash with the Red Devils.

Manchester’s Ryan Giggs modified the scoreboard on the new Wembley stadium 35 minutes after the first whistle with a delightful shot under Petr Cech’s crossbar.

It was one down for Manchester and their play was enchanting the crowd trembling in the stands. Chelsea didn’t set back and watch their opponents collect all the cheers and began attacking the goal of brave Van der Sar in waves.

A sizzling sun couldn’t stop the spectacle and 22 players kept up a thrilling rhythm on a scorching heat. Ten minutes after Gigg’s goal, Chelsea’s latest acquisition Florent Malouda took the spotlight and found the back of Van der Sar’s net with a sniper cross shot, 1-1.

The second half offered fans the same commitment from both teams, but the goals remained untouched for 45 minutes and the Community Shield winner was to be decided after the penalty lottery.

Chelsea’s Claudio Pizzaro confidently took the ball and went straight to Van der Sar’s penalty area. But his confidence wasn’t enough to beat the 36-year-old goalie, who deflected his shot with a saving left hand.

Shaun Wright-Phillips and even Frank Lampard weren’t capable of drilling one past the brave Dutch goalkeeper, while “Reds” Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney sealed a first victory for United.

After the shoot-out Van der Sar kept his moderate tone and outlined his team mates’ contribution.

“Before this match my record was 5-2 down, so now it is 5-3. But the main thing was that we won as a team and that is always special. It will give us some confidence for the season,” he modestly said.

Chelsea’s coach didn’t seem to affected by the defeat and congratulated his pupils for their commitment to continue playing despite injuries.

“I think they did well and I do not think that we deserved to lose the game. At halftime I had four injured players and did not know what I was going to do. Luckily they said that they could continue at first, so we went into the second half with the same time, but then I had to change,” Mourinho said.