Cardiff, Aug 11: United States goalkeeper Tim Howard was the hero as Manchester United won the Community Shield by beating Arsenal 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday (August 10). Before the start a moment's silence was observed because of the deaths on Saturday of Manchester United striker Jimmy Davis, who was on loan to Watford when he was killed in a car crash and former player, coach and manager Ray Harford, who had cancer. Mikael Silvestre headed premier league champions Unitedin front at Cardiff after 15 minutes. A United corner was deflected by captain Roy Keane and French star Silvestre headed home unchallenged. FA Cup winners Arsenal levelled five minutes later when another French star, Thierry Henry, curled a 30-metre free kick into the bottom corner. United had a good chance when Phil Neville crossed to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but his header hit a post and Ruud Van Nistelrooy headed the rebound wide.


In the 74th minute Neville brought down Francis Jeffers and the Arsenal substitute retaliated with a couple of kicks and was sent off by referee Steve Bennett.


So the English season's traditional curtain-raiser went to penalties. Howard, replacing regular Fabien Barthez, saved one, then Jens Lehmann dived for a superb save from Van Nistelrooy. That left the score at 4-3 and the decisive kick to Arsenal veteran Robert Pires, whose shot was saved by the American.


Teams for the Community Shield season-opening match between English champions Manchester United and FA Cup winners Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday: Manchester United: 14-Tim Howard; 25-Quinton Fortune, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 27-Mikael Silvestre, 3-Phil Neville; 20-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 8-Nicky Butt, 16-Roy Keane, 11-Ryan Giggs; 18-Paul Scholes, 10-Ruud van Nistelrooy

Arsenal: 1-Jens Lehmann; 12-Lauren, 23-Sol Campbell, 28-Kolo Toure, 3-Ashley Cole; 15-Ray Parlour, 8-Freddie Ljungberg, 4-Patrick Vieira, 19-Gilberto Silva; 14-Thierry Henry, 10-Dennis Bergkamp. Referee: Steve Bennett


Bureau Report