Chelsea and Manchester United launched the English season in explosive fashion as the Blues' 4-1 penalty shoot-out win in Sunday's Community Shield was marred by an ugly clash between Michael Ballack and Patrice Evra. With United keen to prove a point to the critics questioning its ability to cope without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez and Chelsea trying to impress new boss Carlo Ancelotti, there was a definite edge to a match that finished 2-2 after 90 minutes. The bubbling tension boiled over in the second half when United defender Evra fell to the Wembley turf in pain after a cynical body-check from Chelsea substitute Ballack. Referee Chris Foy waved play on but United's players wanted Chelsea to kick the ball out so Evra could get treatment. Chelsea refused and Frank Lampard took advantage to score, much to the frustration of Evra who became involved in a row with Ashley Cole and then scythed down Ballack to earn a booking. Sir Alex Ferguson's team had taken an early lead when Nani drove home from the edge of the area. Ricardo Carvalho equalized after half-time before Lampard's controversial strike, but Wayne Rooney leveled for United in stoppage time. For Ancelotti the fiesty encounter was an ideal introduction to the no-holds-barred nature of English football, while United could take heart from a determined display that showed it won't give up its three-year reign as champion without a fight. Cech saved from Giggs in the shoot-out and then easily kept out Evra's weak effort before Salomon Kalou slammed home the winner. Nani could miss the start of the Premier League season after dislocating his shoulder during the game. Nani left the field in obvious pain after 60 minutes clutching his arm and was replaced by new signing Antonio Valencia. “He has dislocated his shoulder and the worrying thing was is that we couldn't put it back in straight away,” United manager Alex Ferguson told reporters. Valencia downs Arsenal Spain's Valencia defeated Arsenal 2-0 in a friendly Saturday, but the match was overshadowed by the death of Espanyol skipper Dani Jarque. Michel, in the 75th minute, and David Villa, with a goal in stoppage time, gave the Spaniards victory at the Mestella. Villa had earlier missed a penalty when the scores were level at 0-0. Before the second-half kicked-off, a minute's silence was held in honor of 26-year-old Jarque who died from a heart attack while at an Espanyol training camp in Italy. The players also wore black armbands for the final 45 minutes.
