Arsenal 2 (Maggs 8, 74)
Fulham 2 (Duncan 1, Chapman 11)
Fulham win 3-1 on penalties
Brisbane Road
8 August 2002
FULHAM SPOT-ON TO DENY MIGHTY MAGGS
Fulham’s Norway international goalkeeper Astrid Johannessen made the decisive save as Fulham won 3-1 on penalties in an exciting Community Shield match that had ended all square at Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road.
But the full-time professional outfit, three months after winning the FA Cup, were pushed all the way by the FA Premier League champions.
Arsenal would have been worthy winners over 90 minutes and, in 19-year-old Ellen Maggs, they had the star of the show.
The England Under-19 striker produced a sensational display, which included two memorable goals as she proved a constant threat to Fulham's defence.
The first was an eighth minute bullet header into the top corner of the net, cancelling out Fulham’s opener which had been fired home by Sanchia Duncan after just 44 seconds of an explosive start to the game.
The early fireworks continued apace and, just four minutes after the Maggs equaliser, England midfielder Katie Chapman drilled in a tremendous 20-yard drive to restore Fulham’s lead.
The match thereafter settled into a less lively pattern, though Arsenal controlled most of the play with Maggs at the heart of their attacking moves.
She set up good chances for both winger Clare Wheatley and full back Julie Fletcher, neither of whom could find a decisive finishing touch.
Maggs took matters into her own hands in the 74th minute, however, sweetly placing a neat shot beyond Johannessen and into the Fulham net.
But the Cottagers keeper then denied Maggs what would have been a stoppage time winner, pushing a goalbound shot just wide of the post.
And the Norwegian continued her heroics into the shoot-out. Of the four Arsenal players who took spot-kicks only midfielder Leanne Champ found the net.
In what was the final moment of the match, Johannessen kept out England central defender Faye White’s penalty to spark the Fulham celebrations.
There was no great celebration though, by Cottagers manager Gaute Haugenes just ahead of his team’s first season in the Premier League.
“I was pleased with the result but not the performance,” he said,” especially in the second half. But it's always nice to collect a trophy.”
Despite Arsenal’s loss in the shoot-out, manager Vic Akers was pleased with his team, picking out Maggs for special praise. "She's got a super touch,” he said, “and she showed she can score goals.
“The girls fought hard, they came back twice and we should have won,” he added, “but the defeat was only in a shoot-out and we have gained a lot of friends.”
Arsenal: Byrne, Pealling, McDonald, Ludlow, White, Williams (c), Maggs, Grant, Wheatley, Martyn (Fletcher, 61).
Subs not used: Price, Tracy, Pond, Ta.
Fulham: Hitland-Johannessen, Jerray-Silver (Moore, 61), McArthur, Unitt (Rahman, 77), Phillip, Chapman (c), Haugenes, Duncan, Yankey, Pedersen, Nwajei.
Subs not used: Gibbons, Smith.
