Manchester City confirmed that they are worthy holders of the Barclays Premiership title when they defeated European champions Chelsea in the Community Shield.
The community shield is the traditional curtain-raiser game that is played between the winner of the premiership and the FA cup winner, it officially kick-starts the English football season.
In a pulsating match played at Villa Park, the premier league champions beat 10-man Chelsea 3-2.
Chelsea, third last season were reduced to 10, minutes after Fernando Torres gave Chelsea the lead in the 40th minute, as Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic brought Aleksandar Kolarov’s down with a sliding tackle into shin with raised studs.
With a man off, it was game on Man City, fine strikes from Yaya Toure(53 rd), Carlos Tevez(58th) and Samir Nasri(65 th) ensured that the league champions were on a roller-coaster ride to victory.
However, Chelsea would prove to be the proverbial cat with nine lives, as they got a well deserved consolation goal in the when substitute Ryan Bertrand pulled one back 10 minutes from the end with his first goal for the club.
The life line raised hope of a comeback, but it was not to be