Lucky 13 for United

For the second successive season, Manchester United have won The FA Community Shield on penalties, after their encounter with Portsmouth finished 0-0 in normal time.

Man of the Match, Carlos Tevez, the evergreen Ryan Giggs and midfielder Michael Carrick all registered successful spot-kicks to give United their first piece of silverware of the new campaign.

This was United's thirteenth victory in the season's traditional curtain-raiser and it has ensured they begin this season as they did the last.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted that the Reds were in control for the majority of the 90 minutes, but will bemoan his side's inability to convert any of the chances created.

The Premier League Champions welcomed back captain Gary Neville, who missed most of last season through injury, and it was he and his Portsmouth counterpart, Sol Campbell, who led the sides out at Wembley Stadium to get the new season underway, in the 100th edition of The FA Community Shield.

On a sunny August afternoon, it was Lassana Diarra who had the first opportunity of the match for The FA Cup holders; his 20 yard drive in the opening minute was bravely blocked by Rio Ferdinand.

This set the tone for a bright opening match of the season, which was complimented by a number of opportunities - mainly for United - though only a few were clear cut, with Carlos Tevez and Nani impressing throughout.

The Argentine forward linked well with the midfield and was heavily involved in many of United's better chances, the first of which fell to him after 14 minutes.

Tevez had beaten the Pompey offside trap and was bearing down on goal, only to see his shot well blocked by the recovering Sylvain Distin.

Barely two minutes later, he was presented with another chance to give United the lead.

He exchanged passes with Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher on the right flank. Fletcher pulled the ball back from the byline, however it was slightly behind Tevez, and arching his neck, he watched his header flash just high and wide.

Tevez was again involved in another opportunity for United after 22 minutes. Delightfully intricate play between Tevez, Fletcher and John O'Shea put the Irishman through on goal, and a better first touch might have put United ahead. 

Soon after, a through ball from O'Shea sent Giggs wide in the Pompey area, though David James produced a smart save at his near post to keep the scores level.

The best opportunity of the half - and ultimately the match - fell to Fletcher after 35 minutes. Nani stole the ball from Glen Johnson just outside the Portsmouth area, but his inviting cross could not be turned home by the sliding Scot, who seemingly had the goal at his mercy.

Five minutes before half-time, Giggs released Nani and the Portuguese winger lofted the ball firstly over Sol Campbell on the edge of the box, then the on-rushing James, before Distin came to their rescue and headed the ball out for a corner, to ensure the sides went in level at the break.

United increased the tempo in the second half and four minutes after the break, a David James punch from an in-swinging Nani corner, fell to the feet of Fletcher, 18 yards out.

Fletcher produced a delicate chip with the outside of his right foot, but James recovered well to firstly tip the ball on to the crossbar and to then deny an attempt from Tevez on the rebound.

Michael Carrick was introduced just after the hour mark and he was soon involved in another chance for Tevez; the latter's shot brilliantly tipped round the post by the Pompey stopper.

A constant menace, Tevez felt he should have been awarded a penalty when he was felled by Hermann Hreidarsson inside the box, only for Peter Walton to dismiss the appeal.

Portsmouth though, did enjoy some possession towards the end of the match and second half substitute, John Utaka had a volley comfortably saved by Edwin Van Der Sar.

Pompey's newest recruit, Peter Crouch, almost connected with a shot from six yards out, after a mix-up between Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic led to an opening for Harry Redknapp's tall striker.

Diarra, Patrice Evra and United youngster, Fraizer Campbell all attempted to break the deadlock before the final whistle, but the game had long seemed destined for penalty kicks.

United had created more chances and dominated proceedings for large portions of the game, but were made to wait until after the shootout before they could claim victory.

Lassana Diarra blazed the first kick over the bar to give United the advantage. Although Jermain Defoe scored, Arnold Mvuemba had his kick saved, and Glen Johnson's skied effort presented United with the first piece of silverware of the new season.

Teams

Manchester United
1 Edwin Van Der Sar, 2 Gary Neville (c), (6 Wes Brown, 67), 3 Patrice Evra, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 15 Nemanja Vidic, 24 Darren Fletcher, 18 Paul Scholes, 22 John O'Shea (16 Michael Carrick, 67), 17 Nani (31 Frazier Campbell, 79), 11 Ryan Giggs, 32 Carlos Tevez

Substitutes not used
29 Tomasz Kuszczak, 23 Jonny Evans, 21 Rafael Da Silva, 34 Rodrigo Possebon

Portsmouth
1 David James, 23 Sol Campbell (c), 15 Sylvain Distin, 5 Glen Johnson, 6 Lassana Diarra, 19 Niko Kranjcar (17 John Utaka, 60), 30 Pedro Mendes (Arnold Mvuemba, 75), 8 Papa Boupa Diop, 7 Hermann Hreidarsson (4 Lauren, 79), 14 Jermain Defoe, 9 Peter Crouch

Substitutes not used
21 Jamie Ashdown, 26 Ben Sahar, 20 Martin Cranie, 32 Djimi Traore

Referee
Peter Walton (Northamptonshire FA)

Attendance
84,808