Chelsea – Manchester City

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0722/edenhazardchelsea20120716_275x155.jpg"><br> The traditional curtain raiser for the Premier League season is upon us with the Community Shield kicking off at 1330 BST. It is the FA Cup winners Chelsea against the Premier League champions Manchester City. And it's our first real glimpse of Chelsea's new talent, including Eden Hazard.

Before the action gets underway, in about ten minutes, why not have a read of <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=348159&cc=5739" target="_blank">Jon Carter's match preview as the battle for supremacy in England begins again</a>.

An interesting snippet of news coming out before the game as Manchester City confirm on their website that they have agreed a fee for Everton's Jack Rodwell. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1132871/everton-accept-%27undisclosed%27-manchester-city-bid-for-jack-rodwell?cc=5739" target="_blank">Have a read of our full story here</a>.

As for the team news, Chelsea line up with Torres up top - a big season for that particular chap - while Hazard gets his full debut. Mata and Ramires will also support Torres while John Terry skippers the side.

As for City, Joe Hart is injured so Pantilimon takes his place. Tevez and Aguero start up front, Balotelli isn't even on the bench though he is at the ground, while Yaya Toure, De Jong and Milner anchor the midfield.

The national anthem is belted out at Villa Park. Usually when I've heard that in the last few weeks it has heralded another Team GB gold medal at the Olympics and I've found myself welling up with pride. No sniffles today though.

Of course, the Olympics is the reason the game is being held at Villa Park and not Wembley, given how London is slightly preoccupied with hosting the biggest sporting show on earth.

Plenty of empty seats at Villa Park too. Good job it isn't at Wembley - it'd be about a third full.

So, football, welcome back. Here we go....

Good early break from City as Nasri looked to weave his way through Chelsea's back line but an errant touch allows Ramires to bring the ball away.

Then Torres' first involvement is far from exemplary - losing possession when a fast break was on.

Luiz gives away a free kick and from it Tevez nearly profits. Nasri turns the ball back in and Lampard clears.

Lampard is caught late by De Jong - the latest in a steady line of fierce tackles.

Hazard gets his first ticking off from a referee for diving as he hit the turf under no contact from Toure. Thunderous pace to the game as Luiz now fouls Aguero.

Corner for City and Nasri will take it, Ivanovic flicks behind for another from the opposite side.

Milner intercepts a Mata pass that was meant for Torres. Chelsea haven't quite got going in an attacking sense yet.

City's fans have a new song, it goes: "We won the league in Fergie-time."

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> First yellow of the game, for Savic, who was late on Hazard.

Poor free kick from Mata from the right hand side. City look sharper in the opening 12 minutes, no doubt.

Roy Hodgson is in attendance, after a well earned rest following Euro 2012. Seems a long time ago now doesn't it?

Milner can't quite keep the ball in after tricking his way to the byline.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0812/johnterryandedenhazardcommunityshield20120812_275x155.jpg"><br>John Terry gees up Chelsea's new signing Eden Hazard before kick-off

Aguero squanders a really good chance for City with an errant touch before Luiz closed him down - Nasri was free and in on goal to his left.

City looking dangerous here as Milner gets plenty of room on the right and attempts a cross before Cole gets back to block. Corner.

This time Tevez tries to get the better of Luiz. He stands firm and wins a corner.

Kompany flicks Milner's corner on at the near post but it is right at Cech.

Uproar from the City fans as Hazard falls over attempting a back heel. Not quite a David Dunn moment but not far off.

Predictably, the lament of "What a waste of money," rings round Villa Park.

Luiz pumps the ball long to Torres. Not the kind of service he wants.

Good early cross from Milner and Aguero gets to it first but his glancing header is too thin to trouble the far post. Good move though.

First decent effort from Chelsea as Ramires squares for Lampard but he can't get enough purchase on it to worry Pantilimon who catches comfortably.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0812/vincentkompanyandfernandotorrescommunityshield20120812_275x155.jpg"><br>Fernando Torres does battle with Vincent Kompany. Guess who won?

Another cross from Milner - City have had some joy down the right - but this one is poor.

Chelsea work a corner short, to Mikel, but his shot from 35 yards is miles wide. Not to mention high.

Hazard has a pop on goal but Pantilimon saves his daisy cutter. David Dunn is now trending on Twitter thanks to Hazard's fall a moment ago.

Two efforts on goal from City - first Tevez, then Milner, both blocked.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ramires is carded for a blatant trip on Nsari. Yaya Toure all the while chirping at the referee.

City have looked very strong here - enjoying most of the possession, solid at the back and creating decent openings.

Ashley Cole whacks a shot well over the bar from range.

Hazard lobs a ball into the area looking for Mata but Pantilimon is out smartly to claim the ball.

Torres clips a ball into the box but Zabaleta clears and now Tevez tries to find Aguero but Luiz knocks the ball out of play.

Ivanovic looks for the marauding Lampard with a long ball but Kompany read it well and nods clear.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Torres strikes! What a big goal that could be in his Chelsea career. Ramires danced into the box, flicked the ball to his right and Torres pokes home from seven yards.

Superb work from Ramires to set that goal up. He decieved Savic then offloaded at just the right time. Good finish from Torres too.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/red_card.jpg" height="15"> Kevin Friend has sent off Ivanovic for a lunging tackle provoking familiar scenes as both sets of players surround the ref. He went in two-footed but his feet weren't high. Unfortunate I'd say.

Two-feet were raised and it didn't look great but I don't think that is a red card. Prior to that he gave City a free kick when it looked like he impeded Torres. Had Chelsea won the foul, Savic would have been off.

After all that, City have a free kick 20 yards out to the left of the area, and Milner curls it to the near post where Cech meets it comfortably.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> This game is getting tasty - Lampard charges in on Milner, winning the ball but catching the player. Kevin Friend isn't doing a particularly good job so far I don't think.

<b>HALF TIME</b> The whistle is greeted with a chorus of boos and a sweary chant aimed at Kevin Friend by the Chelsea fans. A fiery game so far, Chelsea a goal up and a man down.

Plenty of good stuff on Soccernet this Sunday. Firstly, <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1132850/sir-alex-ferguson-steps-up-man-utd%27s-robin-van-persie-pursuit?cc=5739" target="_blank">Alex Ferguson has stepped up Man Utd's pursuit of Robin Van Perise</a>.

While Manchester City are also on the hunt for new talent, and the breaking news this afternoon is that they have <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1132871/everton-accept-%27undisc" target="_blank">agreed a fee with Everton for Jack Rodwell</a>.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0812/branislavivanovicwalksoffpitchcommunityshield20120812_275x155.jpg"><br>Branislav Ivanovic walks off the pitch after being red carded for a shin-high tackle on Aleksandar Kolarov

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> We are back, and with a change as Gael Clichy replaces Savic.

Great burst from Torres as he pokes the ball past Clichy and is only thwarted by Kolarov at the last.

With less than a week to go until the start of the new Premier League season there is still time to sign up for ESPN's Premier Fantasy game. <a href="http://games.espn.go.com/premier-fantasy/en_GB/" target="_blank">All the information you need is right here</a>.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Torres is in the mood here, as he charges at City again and draws a block from Kompany. Yellow for City's skipper.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Torres is in the mood here, as he charges at City again and draws a block from Kompany. Yellow for City's skipper.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Yaya Toure smashes it home.

<b>Man City 1-1 Chelsea</b> John Terry's attempted clearance from a corner fell to Toure on the edge of the box and he fired a low drive past Petr Cech. Game on.

A fine finish from Toure, after what was a slightly muffed first touch. Cech had his angles just about right but it was the power that beat him.

Good work from Ashley Cole as he halts a promising City break down the left. Can Chelsea weather the storm?

Torres is working his socks off this afternoon and does well there to win a free kick and buy Chelsea some time.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Tevez with a stunner! What a strike! He took the ball from Nasri, cut inside and laced a shot into the top corner past a motionless Cech. <b>Man City 2-1 Chelsea</b>.

Two goals in six minutes for City and nearly a penalty too as Luiz barges Tevez inside the box. Tevez gets up smartly and wins a corner.

Zabaleta clips Hazard who goes down a little easily again. Cole takes the free kick quickly and wastes possession.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Now Cole is booked for a petulant kick on Tevez.

Ramires fires a shot in on goal but it was always right down Pantilimon's throat.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Game over I would suggest - Nasri pokes home Kolarov's cross and that is 3-1 City.

Bit of a disservice to Nasri saying he poked that one home, it was a very good finish to what was a strongly hit cross from Kolarov. City are running riot now.

A City corner drops on the edge of the box to Nasri but he slices his half volley wide.

Hazard dwells on the ball a little and Zabaleta slides in to win back possession.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> A Chelsea change: Hazard makes way and Ryan Bertrand comes on.

City utterly dominant now, keeping the ball and spraying it around.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Now Sturridge comes on for Mata.

The game has taken on a pre-season friendly feel now, after a pretty ferocious first hour.

Very nearly a chance for Kolarov to make it four as Tevez rolled a delicate pass into the area but Cech was alive to it and sank on the ball.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Nasri off, to be replaced by David Silva.

Lampard clatters into Milner as Chelsea's frustrations boil over a little.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0812/yayatouremancitycelebcommunityshield20120812_275x155.jpg"><br>Yaya Toure spanked Manchester City onto level terms and the Premier League champs kicked on from there

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Bertrand pulls one back after Pantilimon spills Sturridge's low shot.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Double yellows for Pantilimon and Bertrand too as the battle over the ball once it had hit the net. The goalkeeper at fault for not holding onto Sturridge's effort, certainly. A sniff for chelsea.

Hopefully that will set up a grandstand finish but with Chelsea tiring, and a man down, City should be able to hold on - barring any more goalkeeping errors.

Chelsea are giving it a go though, as they win a corner and send men forward. Could well be another goal in this game.

Bertrand has been busy since he came on, slipping Cole inside the area just then but Zabaleta stood firm.

Lampard does well to nick the ball from Tevez as the Argentine harried into the box. Kolarov was in space too.

An errant touch from Torres as Ramires raided down the right. Good spirit from Chelsea in the last ten minutes.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Tevez trots off after a very good shift. He looks fit and hungry. Edin Dzeko replaces him.

Very nearly a fourth for City as Chelsea commit men forward. Milner crosses and Silva's header is saved on the line by Cech.

A sitter missed by Aguero! A lovely move as Toure ran free then fed Milner, he squares it to Aguero but the striker scuffs wide from eight yards out.

Four added minutes as Dzeko is played through but he dawdles a bit and Terry dives in to steal the ball.

Chelsea win a corner as Kolarov conceded possession needlessly.

Chelsea's corner is claimed by Pantilimon and then he releases Silva with City men breaking forward. Ramires blocks off Silva and should really be carded, but he's already on a yellow so the ref decides a ticking off will do.

<b>FULL TIME</b> - An entertaining game and a deserved win for City. The game changed on Ivanovic's sending off, which was harsh to say the least. Tevez and Toure looked very good indeed, while Mata and Hazard failed to fire for the Blues. City will beat the team to beat in the Premier League on this evidence. As curtain raisers for the season go, this was a good 'un.