Saturday marked an historic moment for English and world football, the Football Association held its first ever double-header event, with Wembley hosting both the men’s and women’s Community Shields on the same afternoon. 

Women’s Super League champions Chelsea defeated WFA cup winners Manchester City 2-0 in what was the first Woman’s version of the game to be held at Wembley Stadium. 

The men’s event saw FA cup winner’s Arsenal overcome Premier League champions Liverpool, eventually beating the newly crowned league champions in a penalty shootout after it finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Chelsea shine Bright!!

England and Chelsea defender Millie Bright found her shooting boots and fired home a stunning strike from 25 yards, just minutes after Manchester City’s Jill Scott received her marching orders for a second yellow card. City keeper Ann-Katrin Berger was unable to stop Bright’s effort as it dipped and curled beyond her into the top corner. Erin Cuthbert confirmed victory in stoppage time, the Scotland international came off the bench to seal another trophy for the WSL champions.

This game had been seen as somewhat of a grudge match, City had sat top of the league, one point clear of rivals Chelsea. The league was cancelled in March, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Chelsea were then awarded the title after a points per game system calculated the league’s final standings, meaning Chelsea leapfrogged City, much to the dismay of the Manchester club.

Two in a month…

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced some magic of his own, finding himself in space on the edge of the box, the Gabonese international whipped a shot to the far corner, leaving the outstretched Allison no chance, a strike former Gunner Thierry Henry would be proud of. 

Takumi Minamino’s introduction for Liverpool, around the hour mark proved vital. Linking up with Mo Salah, with an intricate one-two in the box, the ball ricocheted off David Luiz into the path of Minamino, and the Japanese forward slotted cooley home from 6 yards. Liverpool held the momentum and came close to a winner, Sadio Mané seemed through on goal, however, a poor touch from the Senegalese allowed an on rushing Martinez to smother the strikers attempt. Liverpool fans will think he should have done better but it was top goalkeeping from the Spaniard.  

Arsenal took the trophy, their second in a month, with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win, the only player to miss, Rhian Brewster, had been brought on to take a penalty and missed! Jurgen Klopp later told the press, he himself was to blame and claimed he had never seen the striker miss a penalty….until now!

A day of football…

It was announced earlier this month that both games would take place on the same day, at Wembley. It is a great step in the right direction, especially for the women’s game.  When the games were announced FA CEO Mark Bullingham said ” It’s a sign of our commitment to the women’s game and it’s growth, to have a curtain-raiser that mirrors that of the men.” a statement that clearly shows the FA’s determination to continue to raise awareness and popularity of the women’s game.

Man City boss Gareth Taylor also believes playing alongside the men can provide a shot in the arm to women’s football. Whilst Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was pleased to see the women’s game being aired on the BBC, allowing free to air TV to broadcast matches is seen as crucial in the development of popularity for women’s football amongst fan’s.

The women’s game has seen huge growth, every year gets better and better, and following last year’s World Cup in France, the FA has been building the games appeal, it was set to host the European Championships next summer, however the current global crisis has put a stop to that, the tournament is due to be held the following year in 2022 .

Moving forward…

The FA have, in my opinion, created something we as fans can all enjoy. The success of the WSL in recent years has helped develop the women’s game globally. Attracting stars from across the world, Chelsea’s Sam Kerr being an obvious example, the Australian forward is considered one of the best player’s around.

Now the FA is shining a big spotlight on women’s football, cementing its place as an equal with the men’s game. Saturday’s inaugural double header, should be considered just that – the first of many! The day was a complete success as England’s best teams battled it out on the hallowed turf of Wembley, both men and women, as it should be.

My hope is that the FA also sees the day as a huge success, and will consider keeping the event as we move forward, maybe even consider the possibility of doing the same for the FA and WFA cup finals, what a spectacle that would be!!

Written by Andy Jones