United stun City to win FA Community Shield

London : Nani  scored  in  injury  time 
onSunday to give  Manchester  United 
 a 3-2 win  over  Manchester  City  in  English  football's  season-opening  Community  Shield, completing his team's comeback from 2-0 down.

The Premier League champion trailed to goals by Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko despite dominating chances and possession but got back in the game when Chris Smalling tapped in Ashley Young's 52nd-minute free kick. Seven minutes later, Nani lifted the ball over goalkeeper Joe Hart to round off a sparkling team move.

The Portugal winger then robbed Vincent Kompany on halfway, ran unchallenged into the area and rounded Hart to score.Lescott was arguably City's best player at Wembley, blocking a close-range effort by Smalling on the line and deflecting a free kick by Nani past the post before he headed in David Silva's 38th-minute free kick.

While City's attacking players were overshadowed by Nani, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, central defender Lescott also made a crucial challenge on Rooney in the 69th when United had worked a three-on-two opening.

Argentina forward Sergio Aguero was an unused substitute for City, which had seemed happy to settle for a penalty shootout until Nani's second goal.

United cleared a corner kick up to halfway and Kompany, the City captain, was beaten by Nani. With the United fans roaring, the winger outpaced his opponent, dodged to the left around Hart and hit the winner.

The game was littered with yellow cards and rash tackles, with Mario Balotelli squaring up to Nemanja Vidic and rolling on the ground claiming injury when he fell attempting to get out of a tackle by Nani.

Dzeko and Anderson were both booked in the first half when they went chest to chest following the striker's tackle from behind, while City fullback Micah Richards was lucky not to get a red card for a high two-footed lunge on Young on the left corner of the area.

Referee Phil Dowd only booked the defender.

But the 77,169 fans at Wembley were also treated to plenty of entertaining football, most of it from United.

Young, Nani, Rooney and Welbeck - picked to play up front instead of Dimitar Berbatov - combined well without carving open clear openings.

Lescott beat Rio Ferdinand to the ball to make it 1-0 before new United goalkeeper David de Gea was at fault for Dzeko's goal - allowing the Bosnia striker's speculative shot from long range to slip over his outstretched hand.

It was only at 2-0 down that United really hurt City.

Manager Alex Ferguson revamped his central defense for the second half, introducing Phil Jones and Jonny Evans for Vidic and Ferdinand, and brought on young midfielder Tom Cleverley for Michael Carrick.

Cleverley was key to the move that was started and finished by Nani, taking a pass from Rooney and slipping it to the Portugal winger to finish from about 6 yards (meters).

De Gea atoned for his error late on when he punched away a goal-bound effort by substitute Adam Johnson, keeping the score at 2-2 and setting the scene for Nani's winner.

Messi could call it a day for Argentina

London :  Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona warned that Lionel Messi could end his international career if the fans and the Argentine media continue their criticism of the Barcelona star.

Messi is under fierce criticism for his below-par performances in the first two group games at the Copa America. Now as Argentina gear up for their quarterfinal clash against Uruguay, Grondona warned that Messi could end his international career if fans expect him to replicate his form for Barcelona.

"The solution would be for Messi to say: 'I will not come any more, I will stay in Spain'. What everyone acknowledges is that the Argentines want to put him down. Messi was born in Rosario, he lived and played there, he had growth problems. He followed his path, found a place - Barcelona - and they took care of him as if he was born there," Grondona was quoted as saying by Radio Cooperativa "And despite this, he said no to Spain because he wanted to play for Argentina. We have to reflect on this," he said.

Man Utd: world's most valuable sports team

Manchester : Manchester United have been named as the most valuable sports team in the world by Forbes magazine.

The Red Devils, who are valued at 1.86 billion dollars, beat NFL team Dallas Cowboys and the New York Yankees top of the list.

Out of the top 50 sports teams in the annual list, all 32 NFL sides were included, while just eight football clubs from around the world made it.

Real Madrid, in fifth place, are the second most valuable football club, while Arsenal and Chelsea are in seventh and 46th place respectively.

United's advertising revenue has a big impact on their valuation, with the club having an 80 million pounds, four-year deal with shirt sponsor Aon and a 302.9 million pounds, 13-year deal with Nike.

The club also gain their revenue from the club's fanbase, with an estimated 333,000,000 supporters around the world.

Ticket prices affordable for Messi match

Kolkata : In its effort to make ticket prices 'affordable' for the friendly between Argentina and Venezuela, involving star footballer Lionel Messi, the West Bengal government is planning to introduce dedicated family blocks wherein tickets would be available at discounted price.

"We are planning to introduce a family block in Yuba Bharati Krirangan from this match. With this a family can buy out tickets at a discounted price," sports minister Madan Mitra said on Tuesday.

After a meeting with the All India Football Federation and Indian Football Association, Mitra said they have also requested Doordarshan to telecast the match live so that everybody gets an opportunity to watch the action.

Some problems, however, remain over the minimum denomination of ticket price, as the Rs 1,000 suggested by the event managers was termed a little too 'high' by the state government.

"We are not the organisers so we cannot decide on that.

Of course, to see Messi in action comes at a price, but Rs 1,000 is a little too high," Mitra said.

Asked about the renovation work of the artificial turf, which was deemed 'unsuitable' for such a high-profile match, Mitra said the work would begin soon.

"The agency which laid out the turf agreed to do it for free. They would smoothen the surface. The work will take about four weeks' time, so it will be started accordingly."

Mitra also discussed parking and security arrangements for the match.