Community Shield 2016: Manchester United 2-1 Leicester City
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores header to win Community Shield for Man United
Manchester United’s Community Shield 2-1 win against Leicester City gives new hope to Red Devils fans for an exciting, successful season ahead as Jose Mourinho’s side battle their way back up the EPL ladder to join the elite titan clubs at the top on the England Premier League and earn Champions League qualification for the 2017-18 campaign. On a sunny Sunday before a sold out crowd, Jesse Lingard opened the scoring for Manchester United at 32 minutes with an amazing solo strike Lingard, who scored the final goal of Louis van Gaal’s term with the winner in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, put Manchester United ahead before half-time when he ran 40 yards and beat four men to score making the score 1-0 Man United.
Superstar striker Jamie Vardy scored the equalizer for Leicester at 52 minutes from a Marouane Fellaini error that enabled the dynamic England forward to go around David de Gea making the score 1-1. New Swedish signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic kept his promise to have a positive impact this campaign on results to help turn around the downhill struggle United suffered last season. FA Cup winners United secured their 2-1 victory against last season’s Premier League Champions Leicester City in the last 10 minutes of the match with a late pinpoint header past Leicester captain Wes Morgan from Ibrahimovic in his first competitive game for Man Utd at Wembley Stadium in London.
Jose Mourinho has indicated that he will not try to change Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s winning style, but instead will provide a platform for his new center forward to flourish. With 90 minutes logged on in his new term at Man United, No.9 Ibra has already won a title and trophy for his titan club. Ibra’s header was perfectly timed and weighted to reach the far post, and perfectly aimed to beat Kasper Schmeichel’s grasp sealing the victory and trophy and sending United in the right direction in Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford.
Leicester City had not been to Wembley for many years. Leicester looked great and delivered a spirited attempt to win the Community Shield – but this was not their time although with better defensive playing, Claudio Ranieri’s side could have won the competitive and entertaining game. From the looks of the match, Leicester will not go away this season, but will be a formidable foe again. It appears that Leicester will provide a challenge to all their 19 opponents if the Foxes continue their high energy, fast pace on the counter attack, and dangerous strikers. It appears that Ranieri has decided not to change his successful strategy from last season, with the addition of new signing Ahmed Musa looking similar to Vardy.
Community Shield 2016 Squads
Manchester United
De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw (Rojo), Carrick (Herrera), Fellaini, Lingard (Mata) (Mkhitaryan), Ibrahimovic, Rooney (Schneiderlin), Martial (Rashford)
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Goal: Lingard 32, Ibrahimovic 83
Booked: Bailly
Leicester City
Schmeichel, Simpson (Hernandez), Huth, Morgan (Ulloa), Fuchs (Schlupp), Mahrez, Drinkwater, King (Mendy), Albrighton (Gray), Okazaki (Musa), Vardy
Manager: Claudio Ranieri
Goal: Vardy 52
Booked: Simpson, King, Vardy
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was happy to win his first trophy at Manchester United. ‘It feels good. First official game we played for the trophy and we win, it's what it's all about, winning trophies,” said Ibra. “This is my 31st trophy. I'm super happy. This is why I came. Hopefully I can win much more than this. It was a difficult game, we played against a good team, the champions from last season.”
‘I feel very good,” continued Ibrahimovic. “The team is fantastic, good team-mates, good spirit, good professional players and the coach - he wants to win and does everything to win. ‘The club outside the team is probably the biggest club I've played in,” added Ibrahimovic. “Only one I can compare with is Milan. I'm very honored and proud to be here. Our team is something big going on. We're at the beginning, but we begin with a trophy, so it's a good start."
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho expressed concern about his side’s fitness after the match. "The first half performance was much better than the second. The team isn't fit enough yet,” said Mourinho. "When Leicester increased the pace, they had three quick players and changed the game. It's an important victory but we have lots of work to do. I would be not ambitious if I said it was a fantastic performance. It wasn't. It's always important to start with a trophy."
Even though he lost, Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri was optimistic in his comments after the game. "Congratulations to Manchester United, but also to my players as we made a great match,” said Italian Ranieri. “I thought the minimum we deserved was penalties, but when you play against great champions, this can happen. They knew our counter attacking strength well and did everything to stop us. We're not at 100%, but it's positive."
Manchester United's players celebrated after the match holding up the Community Shield trophy at Wembley Stadium. Superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic roared with delight after scoring his a late winner for Manchester United in the Community Shield. Ibrahimovic celebrated the 31st major piece of silverware during his club career across Europe. Jesse Lingard and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, Spanish goalie David de Gea, Eric Bailly, and Anthony Martial joined in the celebration. England manager Sam Allardyce and his assistant Sammy Lee were both in the crowd to watch Sunday's match and his England players battle for silverware in the blazing sunshine in north-west London.
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