THE Community Shield is an odd contest. Rarely are they classics, save for the Keegan and Bremner-inspired clash between Liverpool and Leeds in 1974. One thing they are good for though is giving the fans a first glimpse of their team’s big-money summer signings.

Today in 2006 champions Chelsea were parading £30m man Andriy Shevchenko as they took on FA Cup winners Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The two sides had met 18-months earlier in the League Cup final where John Arne Riise’s first-minute goal couldn’t help his side lose 3-2 and it was the Norwegian who drew first blood again, bagging a goal in the ninth minute.

Chelsea equalised just before half-time, courtesy of debutant Shevchenko, as his pal Roman Abramovich smugly began to believe that he had spent his rubles wisely.

The second half turned into a Sven-esque sub fest, with Chelsea winning that particular battle 6-5, but that’s all they won that day. Peter Crouch, who had arrived at Anfield a year earlier for less than a quarter of Shevers’ price, roboted his way to a late winner, and Liverpool had another trophy to crow about.



As the season went on Roman’s investment began to look more and more shaky. Four Premiership goals was not what was expected from the most feared striker in Europe, but that’s all he managed in the League that year and he hasn’t fared much better since.

Aerodynamic Football Italia frontman James Richardson recently remarked that: “Chelsea paid a levy for the Shevy, but the Shevy went dry” and we’re inclined to agree.

However, our memories aren’t that short here at OTFD, so we’ll leave you with some footage of the Ukrainian in his pomp. Enjoy his goalscoring antics for the Rossoneri, check out what else happened today here and come back tomorrow if you fancy taking five minutes off from the drudgery of work.

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