1999 FA Charity Shield
match programme cover. | |||||||
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Date | 1 August 1999 | ||||||
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Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
Man of the Match | Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal)[1] | ||||||
Referee | Graham Barber (Hertfordshire)[1] | ||||||
Attendance | 70,185 | ||||||
Weather | Clear 29 °C (84 °F)[2] | ||||||
The 1999 Football Association Charity Shield (also known as The One 2 One FA Charity Shield for sponsorship reasons) was the 77th FA Charity Shield, an annual English football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions. The teams involved were Manchester United, who had won both the Premier League and FA Cup as part of the Treble the previous season, and Arsenal, who finished runners-up in the league. Watched by a crowd of 70,185 at Wembley Stadium, Arsenal won the match 2–1.
This was Arsenal's 15th Charity Shield appearance and Manchester United's 19th. Leading up to the match, both clubs were embroiled in controversy: United withdrew from English football's primary cup competition, the FA Cup, in order to take part in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship; Arsenal were entangled in a transfer saga involving their own player, striker Nicolas Anelka, who vowed to never play for the club again. United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, signed as a replacement for Peter Schmeichel, made the first appearance of his second spell with the club. Sylvinho started his first game for Arsenal, whereas other signing Oleh Luzhnyi was named on the substitutes' bench. United went ahead seven minutes before the end of the first half, when David Beckham's free-kick hit the underside of the crossbar and narrowly crossed the line before Dwight Yorke made sure. Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the second half which Nwankwo Kanu converted and the striker assisted his teammate Ray Parlour to score the winner.
This result marked Manchester United's first defeat of 1999. It was the second consecutive year that Arsenal beat United to win the Charity Shield. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger described it as psychological boost to beat his opponents and felt the win showed that his team were ready for the upcoming season. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, on the other hand, believed the defeat highlighted his players needed more game time.
Background
Founded in 1908 as a successor to the
The most recent meeting between the two clubs was in the
In June 1999, United accepted an offer from the FA to withdraw from the FA Cup in order to participate in the
Pre-match
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger warned some United players might take a while to get into their stride after last season's exploits: "You will always have a dip when you have been on a high like they have, it takes some time to settle and to understand that you have to fight again. We had players who won the World Cup, the players who won the Double and to get them right psychologically and physically took us some time."[19] Ferguson described the 3–0 defeat in the previous season's Shield as a "humiliation", before discussing how it made the team prepare for the challenges ahead: "I have reminded the players how hard it is to lose when you are playing for United these days – it makes so many other people happy."[20] Indeed, United only lost five matches of the whole of last season, with their last defeat coming at home to Middlesbrough in December 1998.[21]
Match
Team selection
Both teams were without several first-team players because of injury problems. Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane was still suffering from an ankle injury sustained in the previous season's FA Cup final,[22] which meant defender Denis Irwin took responsibility as the team captain.[23] Ryan Giggs was also ruled out of the game, though his injury was unspecified.[24] Forwards Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke started upfront for United, in a 4–4–2 formation where David Beckham and Jordi Cruyff acted as the two wide midfield players. Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, signed as a replacement for Peter Schmeichel, also started, having rejoined the club after a nine-year spell with Aston Villa.[25]
For Arsenal, defender
Summary
The severe heat meant Manchester United and Arsenal found it hard to find any rhythm early on.
Defender
Details
Arsenal
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Manchester United
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Source: [1]
Statistics
Statistic | Arsenal | Manchester United |
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Goals scored | 2 | 1 |
Shots on target | 3 | 3 |
Shots off target | 5 | 3 |
Corner kicks | 6 | 7 |
Yellow cards | 2 | 2 |
Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Source:[1] |
Post-match
A defeat is a defeat. But I hope that we have as good a season this season as we did last season after losing to Arsenal in last year's Charity Shield.
Sir Alex Ferguson, 2 August 1999.[30]
The result marked the first time that Manchester United had lost in the calendar year, ending a 33-match unbeaten run.[31] Wenger believed the result showed that Arsenal were "ready for the season", albeit admitting that the defence had trouble coping with Yorke. He thought it was "...psychologically important to beat United, especially after the great run they have had".[32] Wenger confirmed afterwards that Anelka would sign for Real Madrid: "I hope everything will be finalised in the next couple of days. In any case, he is not coming back here, and although the contract is not signed yet, I hope it will be after his medical and that is the end of it."[33] Kanu, who scored Arsenal's equaliser and set up the match winner, was pleased with his performance and relished the opportunity of establishing himself in the first team, after Anelka's departure.[34]
Ferguson said the defeat showed that Manchester United needed more games to be ready, "particularly, in the second half" and felt travelling "half way across the world" for pre-season did not aid their preparation.[35] In terms of the result, he said it was "about as significant" as it was last year.[35] Bosnich's performance in goal received mixed reviews in the English press; The Sun questioned his positioning and said his kicking was "poor".[36] The player himself assessed: "My kicking has been atrocious and, generally, my distribution from the back has to improve."[37]
See also
Notes
- ^ The Premier League replaced the Football League First Division at the top of the English football pyramid after its inception in 1992.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d Harris, Harry (2 August 1999). "You've got it all right Arsenal". The Mirror. London. p. 47.
- ^ "History for London City, United Kingdom". Weather Underground. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ "Abandonment of the Sheriff Shield". The Observer. London. 19 April 1908. p. 11.
- ^ "The F.A. Charity Shield". The Times. 7 October 1913. p. 10.
- ^ "The Shield: From the beginning". Manchester City F.C. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ^ Fynn, Alex (2 December 2001). "Continental or the full English?". The Observer. London. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ "The FA Community Shield history". TheFA.com (The Football Association). Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ a b "It's time to have a ball". Sunday Mail. Queensland. 1 August 1999. p. 128.
- ^ "Glorious United crowned champions". BBC News. 17 May 1999. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ "Double joy for Man United". BBC News. 22 May 1999. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ Lawrence, Amy (22 May 2010). "Trebles all round to celebrate rarity becoming routine". The Observer. London. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ Ross, James (15 August 2013). "List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ Millar, Steve (12 April 1999). "Fergie Fury at Offside Howler". The Mirror. London. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ "Giggs magic sinks Gunners". BBC News. 14 April 1999. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
- ^ a b "Anelka: The story so far ..." BBC News. 2 August 1999. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ Lacey, David (3 August 1999). "Arsenal snap up Suker to fill the Anelka gap". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ "United pull out of FA Cup". BBC News. 30 August 1999. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ a b Wood, Stephen; Baldwin, Tom (31 July 1999). "Sir Alex accuses Arsenal 'Cabinet'". The Times. p. 1.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wood, Stephen (31 July 1999). "Ferguson ready for return to familiar hostilities". The Times. p. 33.
- ^ "Arsenal en Real akkoord over Anelka". Het Parool (in Dutch). Amsterdam. 2 August 1999. p. S3.
- ^ "Big two gear up for Wembley". BBC News. 30 July 1999. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ "Parlour gives Gunners Wembley win". BBC Sport. 1 August 1999. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ a b Montgomery, Alex (1 August 1999). "It's United reserves v Arsenal reserves". News of the World. London. p. 67.
- ^ a b c d e Lacey, David (2 August 1999). "Arsenal play their troubles away". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ Fox, Norman (1 August 1999). "Anelka: Is this for real?". The Independent on Sunday. London. p. S1.
- ^ a b Barclay, Bill (1 August 1999). "No charity for United as Arsenal sound warning". Agence France Presse. London. p. 34.
- ^ a b c d e Harris, Harry (2 August 1999). "You've got it all right Arsenal". The Mirror. London. pp. 46–47.
- ^ a b c d e "Arsenal beat Man Utd at Wembley". Evening Herald. Plymouth. 2 August 1999. p. 34.
- ^ Collett, Mike (3 August 1999). "Gunner glory as United run ends". The Advertiser. Adelaide. p. 45.
- ^ Bradley, Mark (2 August 1999). "Gunners fire out warning shot". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 55.
- ^ Moore, Glenn (2 August 1999). "Kanu ignites the Gunners". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ "Arsenal in double celebration". Courier Mail. Queensland. 3 August 1999. p. 33.
- ^ Cross, John (3 August 1999). "I kan beat them all". The Mirror. London. p. 51.
- ^ a b Pierce, Bill (2 August 1999). "Anelka farce real-ly at an end". Birmingham Post. p. 17.
- ^ "Reflexes are sharp Bosnich". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 4 August 1999. p. 35.
- ^ Wood, Stephen (3 August 1999). "Bosnich aims to kick weakness into touch". The Times. p. 50.