Community Shield 2013: Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic - Match Report:

Yesterday was the annual FA Community Shield match-up between the EPL champions Manchester United and FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic. Wigan won the FA Cup back in May, a few weeks before they were relegated from the top tier in English football. 

Late winner: Wigan striker Ben Watson scored a late header to give Wigan a shock win against City.

Meanwhile Manchester United secured their record 20th EPL title with a confident and comfortable display, beating nearest rivals Manchester City with a 12-point gap at the top of the table. 

Record-breakers: Man United celebrated their dominance by sealing their record 20th league title last season.

It was a great atmosphere at Wembley Stadium, with the news surrounding the first official competitive match which including goal-line technology, after all of the controversy and hype over disallowed (or allowed goals) that should not have counted. 

Technology prevails: This match was the first competitive game in England to use goal-line technology.

Opening ceremony: Manchester United and Wigan Athletic met in the Community Shield match yesterday. 

Also in the press and newspapers before the match was the rumours and speculation about Wayne Rooney's future at Manchester United, after the 27-year-old English striker confirmed that he wanted to leave United. 

He did not feature in the game yesterday, as he had a minor injury and did not want to aggravate it. This will no doubt fuel more rumours however, of a move somewhere else in the foreseeable future.

Signs of support: Banners of support for wantaway striker Wayne Rooney were visible at Wembley yesterday.

In the first half, Manchester United started the game off quickly, breaking the deadlock in the 6th minute when Robin van Persie picked out a long ball on the wing towards French full-back Patrice Evra, who whipped the ball into the box for the Dutchman to lurk in-front of and head straight into the bottom corner of the net to give United a 1-0 lead.

Powerful but accurate: van Persie heads the ball straight into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Quick start: van Persie's goal came 6 minutes into the game, and United were comfortable after that.

Some nice interchanging play between Rafael, Cleverley and Zaha on the wing found Danny Welbeck on the near post through on goal, but a last-ditch clearance by new Wigan signing and former Newcastle right-back James Perch denied United from going 2-0 up.

Another new Wigan signing in Republic of Ireland winger James McClean (£5million from Sunderland) had a good chance to score after a lofted ball into the box gave him space and time to get past Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, who was the last player between McClean and De Gea.
McClean used his pace to get past him, but his strike in the end failed to trouble David De Gea and ended up going near the corner flag instead of the net.

Danny Welbeck almost made it 2-0 to United again, after a dangerous counter attack found a ball towards him, but his strike was parried away well by former West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Robin van Persie completed his double after a good pass by Welbeck found him in space just inside the 18-yard box. He was being marked well by McClean, but he used good footwork to get past the midfielder and turn the ball onto his left foot, when he unleashed a swerving strike towards goal.
Carson looked as though he could have got his hands to the shot, when James Perch tried to block the shot and ended up deflecting it into the net past Carson, who was helpless to save the shot. 

Swerving strike: Robin van Persie completes his double and ends Wigan's hopes of getting back into the match.

From that point on all Wigan hope of another shock win had evaporated, and United were comfortable and allowed to sit back with the ball at their feet more frequently. 

Eventually the referee blew the whistle to put Wigan out of their misery, and give United the win they came for. 

No shocks here: Manchester United celebrate their 2-0 win over Wigan to give them the Community Shield.

First of many? David Moyes celebrates his first piece of silverware at United, after 6 weeks in charge..

The English football season has just begun.. Less than a week to go now until the launch of the 2013-14 EPL season...

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