United win by 3-1 after a penalty shoot out
The FA Community Shield sponsored by McDonald's 2008
3pm, Sunday 10 August 2008
Wembley Stadium
Live on Setanta, highlights on ITV
Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe feels that there is plenty to be confident of ahead of the new season at Fratton Park, following their performance against Manchester United in Sunday’s FA Community Shield.
The FA Cup winners held the Premiership and European champions to a draw in the 90 minutes, only to lose out after a penalty-shoot-out at Wembley.
And Defoe believes that Pompey showed their defensive strength in the game, ahead of their season opener against Chelsea next week.
"I thought we were good defensively,” said Defoe.
“We've been working on our shape in training and I think that showed in the match.
"I think we can take a lot out of the game and bring it into the Chelsea match next week.”
Whilst United enjoyed the better of the possession and chances throughout the game, Portsmouth also had their opportunities and the former Tottenham Hotspur ace is now looking forward to locking horns with them again soon.
"United are a really good side - the European champions, so to get a clean sheet against them is great,” he added.
"Okay, we lost on penalties but we play them in the league in a couple of weeks and that's when it really counts.
"It was difficult against Ferdinand and Vidic, it always is. Whenever United lose the ball they get back to shape really quickly and get a lot of bodies all around you.”
The game also saw the new Fratton Park strike partnership between Defoe and Peter Crouch on show in front of the watching England Manager Fabio Capello.
With both players hoping to stake their claim for a place in Capello’s team, Defoe believes that playing together at club level can only help their international prospects.
"I think the England manager was here and he knows what we can do,” admitted the 25-year-old.
"It's up to him if we're selected but we've got a good record together and if we're picked then I'm sure we'll be ready.”
Teams
Manchester United
1 Edwin Van Der Sar, 2 Gary Neville (c) (6 Wes Brown, 67) 3 Patrice Evra, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 15 Nemanja Vidic, 24 Darren Fletcher, 18 Paul Scholes, 22 John O'Shea (16 Michael Carrick, 67) 17 Nani (Fraizer Campbell, 79) 11 Ryan Giggs, 32 Carlos Tevez
Substitutes
29 Tomasz Kuszczak, 23 Jonny Evans, 21 Rafael Da Silva, 34 Rodrigo Possebon
Portsmouth
1 David James, 23 Sol Campbell (c), 15 Sylvain Distin, 5 Glen Johnson, 6 Lassana Diarra, 19 Niko Kranjcar (17 John Utaka, 60), 30 Pedro Mendes (18 Arnold Mvuemba, 75) 8 Papa Boupa Diop, 7 Hermann Hreidarsson (4 Lauren, 79) 14 Jermain Defoe, 9 Peter Crouch
Substitutes
21 Jamie Ashdown, 26 Ben Sahar, 20 Martin Cranie, 32 Djimi Traore
Referee
Peter Walton (Northamptonshire FA)
Manchester United Red shirts, White shorts, White socks
Goalkeeper Yellow shirt, Black shorts, Yellow socks
Portsmouth Blue shirts, Blue shorts, Blue socks
Goalkeeper Grey shirt, Grey shorts, Grey socks
Officials
Referee Peter Walton (Northamptonshire FA)
Assistants David Richardson (West Riding FA) and Ian Gosling (Kent FA)
Fourth Official Andre Marriner (Birmingham FA)
Attendance: 84,808
