Community Shield: Arsenal beats Chelsea in ABBA shootout
LONDON — Arsenal will start the Premier League season on a high note after mastering the experimental ABBA penalty shootout pattern to beat Chelsea to the Community Shield.
Wembley Stadium provided the biggest stage yet for global trials with the format that mixes up the order of penalties rather than spotkicks alternating between teams A and B.
The long-standing system was deemed by soccer’s lawmaking body to be handing an unfair advantage to the team going first. And going second in the rejigged shootout, Arsenal overwhelmed Chelsea 4-1 to win the traditional curtain raiser to the English season after the match was locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
“We showed great composure to come back to the game,” Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech said, “then it is penalties and who keeps their cool better.”