United beat Chelsea in Community Shield

 WEMBLEY, England (AP):

Javier Hernandez scored a clumsy debut goal yesterday as Manchester United beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Community Shield and left the defending Premier League champions looking vulnerable a week before their title defence begin.

While United looked clinical in the traditional curtain-raiser to the season, a lethargic Chelsea side was consigned to its fourth straight preseason loss on its return to Wembley - where it won the FA Cup title in May - and only managed a late consolation goal from Salomon Kalou.

United lost both league encounters with Chelsea last season after being beaten in the Community Shield.

Speedy Mexican

Encouragingly for United's prospects of preventing another season of Chelsea domination, Hernandez - the speedy Mexican signed from Chivas Guadalajara - looked lively when he came on at half-time, even though his 76th-minute goal was anything but graceful.

The striker stumbled as he met Antonio Valencia's cross, kicking the ball onto his own face before it drifted into the net for United's second, coming either side of goals from Valencia and Dimitar Berbatov.

"It's unbelievable to score and win this match - it's an unusual goal," the 22-year-old Hernandez said.

United manager Alex Ferguson said he thinks the signing of Hernandez for seven million pounds ($11 million) will turn out to be a bargain.

A competitive debut

"He is certainly different to what we've got," Ferguson said. "He was so quick to get there (for the goal), his speed took him past the ball, he'll take that all the time."

By the time Hernandez came on to make his competitive debut, United were leading 1-0.

Valencia scored four minutes before the break after racing onto Wayne Rooney's precise, low cross.

After Hernandez had given United a two-goal cushion, Kalou pulled one back in the 83rd, meeting the rebound after Edwin van der Sar parried Daniel Sturridge's shot.

But Dimitar Berbatov rounded off the win in stoppage time by lobbing Chelsea goalkeeper Henrique Hilario - a deft goal Ferguson hopes will help to end the 'harsh criticism' of the club's record signing.

"It was important for Dimitar to score, he's been under a lot of pressure," defender Nemanja Vidic added. "But I think he'll score more this season."

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said there needs to be a big improvement before Chelsea host West Bromwich Albion in the season opener on Saturday.

"It's not been a good preseason, we have lost four games," the Italian said. "We played too slow in the first half - it was not our best day, but this is normal, it can happen at the start of the season.

"It's impossible for some players to be fit and quick after 10 days of preseason. Players who came back from their (post-World Cup) holidays on July 26 need to improve their condition."