Chelsea 2 - 0 Manchester United

The game was marred by the sending off of Roy Keane just after the hour for a very poor challenge on Gustavo Poyet. A first half strike from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and a late goal from Mario Melchiot sealed the Shield for the Blues.

But even before the dismissal of Keane, Chelsea were in control of the game. But how many times have Manchester United played in the Charity Shield and failed to turn on the style? They never really go into the game firing on all cylinders, and it was again the case at Wembley's final domestic encounter as United became the first side to lose the curtain raiser three years in succession.

For the first half hour Sir Alex Ferguson's side never really got a touch of the ball. Chelsea were inventive, hungry and unlucky not to lead by more than the one goal they scored.

But when the goal did come luck was on their side. Gustavo Poyet flicked the ball on well and found Hasselbaink on the right. He closed in on goal and his shot deflected off the boot of Jaap Stam and looped over the head of Fabien Barthez into the back of the net.

Hasselbaink was lively throughout the half and the Blues' fans will be optimistic he can cure their goalscoring problems which have been so evident in recent seasons.

The game had started at a frantic pace - and there was very nearly a brawl in the centre of the park after Poyet reacted angrily to a tackle from Keane. Roberto di Matteo then came steaming in but referee Mike Riley managed to diffuse the situation.

From then it was all Chelsea. Another Chelsea debutant, Mario Stanic, should have given his side the lead after ten minutes after he was put through by Hasselbaink but the Croat fired horribly wide.

Almost straight away Stanic had another chance to mark his first game with a goal. Gianfranco Zola produced a fine cross from the left but Stanic couldn't keep his header down.

United were finding it hard to get hold of the ball and stamp their authority on the game. An injury to Mikael Silvestre then nearly cost them dear as he was left to battle with Hasselbaink, who had been put through on goal by Poyet.

Silvestre stumbled which allowed the Dutchman the chance to shoot but he couldn't keep his effort on target.

Silvestre was then brought off by boss Ferguson, clearly strugging. Stam was introduced.

United then created their only real chance of the first period. Ryan Giggs fed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the Norwegian striker joined the growing band of players unable to keep their shots on target.

It was then that Chelsea took the lead in the 22nd minute through £15m man Hasselbaink, and it was no more than the London side had deserved.

But the Blues didn't take their feet off the gas and both Di Matteo and Zola had great chances to net but were wasteful.

Then in injury time United nearly stole an equaliser. A fine ball from David Beckham caught out Frank Leboeuf and his error gave Paul Scholes enough space for a shot but he fired wide of the post.

United came out in the second half with much greater purpose and immediately looked to get back on level terms.

A poor defensive header by Marcel Desailly provided Scholes with the chance to have a shot from the edge of the area but his effort deflected off Melchiot and flew over the bar.

Despite the good start the Reds had made, they were struggling to find a way through the Chelsea rearguard. But as United tried to turn up the pace, the heat of the game also rose.

The pushing and shoving of the first few minutes was clearly a guide to the competitiveness of the game, as the tackles began to fly in. There was certainly no charity being shown on the pitch.

The troubles flared just before the hour when Keane was fouled by Hasselbaink. The Irishman was furious at the challenge and the insistance of the referee that he leave the pitch for treatment.

Before he returned to the pitch, Dennis Wise got involved in unsavoury action. He came in very late on Giggs but the referee again opted to keep his cards in his pocket.

But that all changed within a minute when Keane was allowed back on the pitch. Poyet had the ball in the centre circle and Keane came in with an awful tackle, catching the Uruguayan with his studs in the back of his leg.

Keane had no chance of getting the ball and referee Riley had no hesitation in producing the red card - the seventh of Keane's career with United.

Despite going down to ten man and being up against it, you can never back against Ferguson's men.

Within five minutes United won a free kick on the left-hand edge of the box after Giggs was obstructed. Beckham fired the ball towards goal but Ed de Goey managed to palm the ball away for his defence to clear.

If United thought they were still in with a shout of taking the match to penalties, their hopes were shot to pieces in the 73rd minute.

Melchiot received the ball thirty five yards from goal, took it forward and as the United defenders stood off him the for Ajax man was left with the time and space to slot the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Barthez's net.

The game then began to slow down, with United seemingly resigned to their fate.

The watching England coach Kevin Keegan was boosted 15 minutes from time by the return from injury of Graeme Le Saux. The left back will almost certainly be an important part of the England squad bidding to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

Chelsea were becoming increasingly in control of the game, comfortable in defensive while continuing to probe at the United back line.

Hasselbaink went close with another long range effort ten minutes from time, but Barthez looked like he would have had it covered if it had been on target.

Scholes then picked up a yellow card for a late trip on substitute Jody Morris.

The last ten minutes of the game passed by almost incident free - bar a long range effort from another of the Blues debutants in Eidur Gudjohnsen which went well wide.

Chelsea fully deserved their victory - but seldom does the winner of the Charity Shield go on to have success in the Premiership.