Connect with us

SPORTS

Moses scores as Arsenal secure comeback win to lift Community Shield

Published

on

Moses scores as Arsenal secure comeback win to lift Community Shield

Super Eagles striker Victor Moses on Sunday scored a goal for Chelsea but unfortunately it was not enough as Arsenal secured a comeback win to lift the Community Shield at the Wembley Stadium.

It was reported that the Community Shield is the season’s traditional “curtain raiser” which pitted Premier League champions Chelsea against FA Cup winners Arsenal.

Arsenal has won the trophy three times in four years.

Moses had opened scoring for Chelsea early in the second half after a goalless first half which saw both sides unable to convert their goal scoring opportunities.

Arsenal were caught off-guard at the restart as Granit Xhaka ballooned a clearance from a corner high in the air.

But Gary Cahill flicked it back into the middle of the box as Moses timed his run to perfection, creeping through to drive in from close range and slotting the ball past Petr Cech in the 47th minute.

The goal was Moses’ first for Chelsea in 27 games. His last one came against Tottenham HotSpurs in November.

It was reports that the Super Eagles’ midfielder, Alex Iwobi, also had a decent performance for Arsenal with some nifty footwork, going closest to scoring in the 49th minute after twirling his way through a couple of players before getting his shot off in the mark.

But the shot was weak and straight at goalkeeper.

He was, however, substituted in the 67th minute alongside Arsenal’s new signing Alexandre Lacazette who also came close to scoring with a shot that hit the post in the first half.

Oliver Giroud and Theo Walcott were introduced as their replacements as Arsenal desperately went in search for the equaliser.

With 10 minutes left to play and just as Chelsea looked poised to win, the game unfortunately took a twist of fate as Chelsea went down to 10 men.

Pedro Rodriguez went late and high with his studs up on Mohamed Elneny.

Referee Bobby Madley had a little think and then pulled out the red card as Antonio Conte expressed his displeasure at the referee’s decision.

It was indeed a crazy couple of minutes for Chelsea as straight from the free-kick conceded by Pedro, Arsenal equalised in the 82nd minute.

Granit Xhaka’s delivery was headed in powerfully by new boy Sead Kolasinac.

There were just 82 seconds between Pedro’s red card and Kolasinac’s goal.

Kolasinac became the first player to open his goal account for Arsenal in the Community Shield since Gilberto Silva in 2002.

It was certainly dramatic and cranked up the atmosphere in the closing stages.

The game, however, ended in a 1-1 draw and went straight into the lottery of penalty shootouts.

With the game going straight into penalties, the Gunners showed their superiority; scoring all their four kicks, while the Blues could only put in one.

Thibaut Courtois and new club-record signing, Alvaro Morata lost their kicks.

Sunday’s win extends Arsenal’s unbeaten record to 9 at Wembley

It was indeed a turnaround as Arsenal secured their first trophy of the season, beating Chelsea 4-1 on penalties.

Nan

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel