Nani double secures Community Shield

LONDON – Manchester United underlined their determination to hold off the challenge from title rivals Manchester City as Nani’s last-gasp winner clinched a 3-2 victory in the Community Shield yesterday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side trailed 2-0 at half-time after big-spending City took advantage of poor goalkeeping from new signing David De Gea to score through Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko.But United had been the better side for much of the first period and the champions tore into City after the break, equalising thanks to goals from Chris Smalling and Nani before the Portuguese winger snatched the stoppage time winner.It was the perfect way for United, who have won this curtain-raiser to the English season four times in the last five years, to conclude their pre-season programme ahead of the start of the Premier League campaign next weekend.Ferguson has always played down the significance of the Community Shield, but the bitter memories of last season’s FA Cup semi-final defeat against City provided United with more motivation than usual.England winger Ashley Young, making a confident start after his move from Aston Villa, took advantage of his license to drift infield to link up with Wayne Rooney and advanced to a threatening position before Lescott came across to block the shot.This may have been a friendly in name but the derby factor and a feeling FA Cup winners City will be the main challengers for United’s title gave an added spice to the occasion.Some of the tackles were laced with venom and City defender Micah Richards was lucky to avoid becoming a rare Community Shield dismissal as he caught Young with a nasty studs-up lunge.In amongst all the aggression, Ferguson’s side looked the more cohesive unit. – Nampa-AFP

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