COMMUNITY SHIELD
Wembley concerts force Community Shield switch to Cardiff
The FA Community Shield will be staged at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in August after Wembley was made unavailable due to a series of concerts, the Football Association said on Monday.
Wembley has been booked for multiple shows by Canadian pop star The Weeknd on those dates.
The Premier League season is scheduled to begin over the weekend of August 22, with the Community Shield to be played on August 16.
The fixture will be played at the home of Welsh rugby for the first time since 2006.
“We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the FA Community Shield back to Principality Stadium,” said Gavin Marshall, chief financial and operating officer of the Welsh Rugby Union.
“This fixture has a special place in the stadium’s history and to be hosting it again for the first time in 20 years is a tremendously proud moment for everyone here.”
The venue, which has a capacity of more than 74,000, previously hosted the Community Shield on six occasions between 2001 and 2006 during the redevelopment of Wembley.
The switch to Cardiff may have commercial implications, with Wembley’s 90,000-seat capacity and status as the FA’s national stadium offering greater match-day revenue and hospitality opportunities.
Some supporter groups welcomed the decision, citing Cardiff as “one of the best sporting venues”, while others questioned the need to stage the fixture outside England, raising concerns over travel and accommodation costs for fans.
“What’s the point of having it in a different UEFA member nation?… They should have had it at different locations around England,” a fan posted on X.
-Reuters
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Liverpool’s new striker Darwin Nunez scored a late goal on his debut as they drew first blood in this season’s rivalry with Manchester City after a 3-1 win in Saturday’s Community Shield.
The Uruguayan, bought from Benfica for an initial fee of 75 million euros ($76.64 million), made himself an instant fan favourite after capping a lively appearance off the bench with a stoppage time goal to secure the first trophy of the season.
English champions City started their big close-season signing, Norway’s Erling Haaland but, in contrast to Nunez, he had a disappointing debut, missing several chances and struggling to combine with his new team mates.
However, another new City face — Argentine forward Julian Alvarez – found the target after coming on in the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold had opened the scoring, firing Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool side ahead in the 21st minute of the 100th edition of the annual clash between the league champions and FA Cup winners.
Thiago Alcantara floated the ball to Mohamed Salah on the right and the Egyptian laid it back to Alexander-Arnold whose first time shot curled into the far corner.
Haaland, brought in from Borussia Dortmund, missed two first half chances to mark his City debut with a goal but Pep Guardiola’s side were missing their usual fluency.
VAR REVIEW
It was another new striking addition who brought City level in the 70th minute when Phil Foden’s shot was parried by Adrian and with the ball spilling loose, former River Plate forward Alvarez pounced to net his first goal for the club.
The effort was initially ruled out for offside but a VAR review overturned the decision although the technology was soon to work against Guardiola’s side.
Referee Craig Pawson went to the monitor before ruling that City defender Ruben Dias had handled at close range from a Nunez header and Mohamed Salah drilled home the penalty to restore Liverpool’s lead in the 83rd minute.
Nunez then capped an eventful appearance from the bench, scoring with an angled header after Andy Robertson had nodded the ball into his path.
Haaland’s testing debut ended with him missing a sitter when Phil Foden’s shot was pushed out by Adrian and the blond forward blasted his shot against the bar and over.
“Our season started today and it was important for us to get off on the right foot,” said Alexander-Arnold, who was full of praise for 23-year-old Nunez’s impact.
“He won the penalty, scored a goal and looked very lively. He’s been bought in to score goals and he’s proved he can do that today,” he said.
“He’s a top player, a young player who is willing to learn. He’s bonded well with the lads. He came on with a point to prove”.
-Reuters
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