Manchester United’s season began yesterday as the previous one ended, winning a trophy by beating a team in blue on penalties, and anyone hoping for a shift in the balance of power away from Old Trafford towards Stamford Bridge, the Emirates Stadium or Anfield should be aware that the shoot-out followed one of the most one-sided of goalless draws.

The FA Cup holders’ strongest XI was overrun by a United team lacking several key players and only poor finishing and some outstanding saves by David James prevented the champions from gaining a greater measure of revenge on Portsmouth for denying them a treble last season.

Portsmouth’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in the FA Cup sixth round on March 8 ended United’s quest for a repeat of their clean sweep in 1999 of FA Cup, Premiership and European Cup and in many ways yesterday’s Community Shield followed a similar pattern. Portsmouth were forced to hang on grimly as United attacked in waves, but whereas last season Harry Redknapp’s men broke away to grab a winner, this time they barely got within sight of United’s goal, which will give the Portsmouth manager food for thought in advance of the Barclays Premier League meeting between the teams at Fratton Park a fortnight today. Peter Crouch, the club’s only significant summer signing, was restricted to a single scoring chance. “I don’t know how it got to penalties,” Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, said. “We dominated possession and had some good chances. But if we’re making chances, we shouldn’t worry about it. I can’t ask for any more.”

As a game to mark the centenary of the fixture - United beat Queens Park Rangers after a replay in 1908 - it was more entertaining than most and gave the winners their thirteenth outright victory in 25 appearances. In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is recovering from an ankle operation, and Wayne Rooney, who contracted a virus while United were in Nigeria - where they beat Portsmouth 2-1 in a friendly - Carlos Tévez took centre stage, showing why United are willing to pay £32 million, a British record fee, to make his loan signing permanent.

Playing behind Ryan Giggs, who was making a record eleventh start in the fixture, the Argentina forward gave Portsmouth no rest all game and was denied by James’s best save. “He fights for every ball, he’s never intimidated,” Ferguson said. “He was a constant thorn to Portsmouth all day.”

Tévez, though, was accused afterwards of stamping on Hermann Hreidarsson. The Argentine thought that he should have had a penalty in the 74th minute when the Portsmouth left back grabbed his legs, although Hreidarsson insisted that he was reacting to Tévez trampling on him. The incident ended with the United player grabbing Hreidarsson’s throat, although Peter Walton, the referee, waved play on and took no action against either man. “I was down and he stamped on me,” the Iceland player said. “I thought he could have avoided me. That was why I reacted and why I grabbed his leg.”

Portsmouth adopted a cautious approach, sacrificing width in midfield to accommodate the defensively inclined Papa Bouba Diop on the right, but it had little effect beyond starving Crouch and Jermain Defoe of service from the wings. At the back, Sylvain Distin was overworked covering for his teammates and, either side of him, all was confusion. Darren Fletcher was allowed to reach the byline and cross for the unmarked Tévez, who put his header wide. Then Giggs shot fiercely at the near post, James getting his body in the way. Sol Campbell had a senior moment that almost gave a chance to Giggs before the two full backs combined to present United with their clearest opening. Glen Johnson was dispossessed by Nani, who crossed to the far post, where Fletcher escaped the dozing Hreidarsson, only to fluff what should have been a tap-in.

Not much changed in the second half. After 49 minutes Fletcher nearly atoned for his earlier gaffe when James came out to punch from a corner and ended up on the ground. However, as Fletcher lobbed the ball back towards goal with the outside of his right foot, the England goalkeeper regained his footing and threw himself backwards, tipping the ball against the bar. And he bettered that save nine minutes later when he plunged to his right to turn the ball round a post from Tévez’s shot.

That was the moment you suspected that United, for once, would not find a way through and Portsmouth might have pilfered an improbable winner in the 73rd minute when Nemanja Vidic dawdled instead of clearing Bouba Diop’s cross. Crouch was almost able to get in a telling shot, but it was significant that the chance was presented to him rather than manufactured by a teammate.

It would have been a travesty had Crouch scored and the penalty kicks delivered the right result. Lassana Diarra smacked the first one over the bar and Arnold Mvuemba and Johnson were also unsuccessful. Tévez, Giggs and Michael Carrick scored for United and Defoe for Portsmouth. Given the number of penalty failures for English clubs in the Uefa Cup last season, it is something more for Redknapp to think about before his team’s forthcoming debut in Europe.

Manchester United ratings (By Tom Dart)
4-4-1-1

Average rating 6.5

Edwin van der Sar Hardly involved in the shoot-out, let alone the match. Had one shot to save in normal time and it was straight at him. Slightly lucky stop with his legs from Mvuemba’s penalty. 6

Gary Neville A solid afternoon for the captain, who made only one appearance last season because of injury. He was composed and used the ball well, although it was kind of Kranjcar not to bother him. 6

Rio Ferdinand So smooth, he did not so much move into positions as pour himself over the pitch like water. Comfortable enough to venture forward and support the attack in the closing minutes. 7

Nemanja Vidic An adequate display, although the Serbia defender seemed rusty. One early slip almost let in Bouba Diop and was followed by a mistimed header that gave Defoe a chance. 6

Patrice Evra He was crunched from behind by Bouba Diop, rolled around like an Olympic diver and played within himself after that, not that he needed to support the attack with Nani so rampant. 6

Darren Fletcher A tidy effort threatened to be undermined by his dire miss from close range after 35 minutes, but his deft chip off the bar early in the second half restored some lost credibility. 6

John O’Shea Mr Mop-Up in front of the back four, giving Scholes licence to roam. Effective enough, not that the United defence was under sufficient threat to require a bodyguard. 6

Paul Scholes Those ageing legs looked sprightly. Did not find room to unfurl one of his precise long-range shots, but saw plenty of the ball and found a fair amount of space in a congested midfield. 6

Nani No Cristiano Ronaldo, no problem. Uncontrollable, irresistible, all that was missing was a goal. The precision and pace he showed outside the area was not echoed when he neared the goal. 8

Ryan Giggs Took up a variety of positions across the front line and did well. Rarely gave the ball away and was involved in a few sharp passing moves that threatened to slice Portsmouth apart. 7

Carlos Tévez His delight at victory summed up a passionate and potent display. Limitless energy and lovely skill, although he could have been in serious trouble for grabbing Hreidarsson’s throat. 8

Substitutes: Wes Brown for Neville, 67 6; Michael Carrick for O’Shea, 67 6; Fraizer Campbell for Nani, 79. Substitutes not used: Tomasz Kuszczak, Jonathan Evans, Rafael Da Silva, Rodrigo Possebon. Booked: Vidic, Neville.

Portsmouth ratings
4-4-2

Average rating 5.4

David James Far busier than his United counterpart. Made a superb stop to deny Tévez and tipped Fletcher’s chip on to the bar, although his decision to punch the preceding cross led to the chance. 8

Glen Johnson Not enough attacking runs to distract from his defensive doziness. Too casual on the edge of the area, robbed by Nani in the first half and shot over the bar in the shoot-out. 3

Sol Campbell Sluggish and rescued by his centre-back partner a few times. Said in a prematch interview that he had not lost hope of an England recall. This display will not boost his chances. 4

Sylvain Distin Booked in the first half and seemed grouchy, perhaps because he was keeping the scores level single-handed. Pace, strength, aggression and good judgment, he led the resistance. 8

Hermann Hreidarsson Not quick or dynamic enough to offer attacking options, although he had plenty to occupy him in defence. Lucky not to concede a penalty when he hauled down Tévez. 5

Papa Bouba Diop Hardly a right winger, “The Wardrobe” was more of a bedside table, failing to use his physical presence to halt Nani, while he furnished his team with minimal width and creativity. 5

Lassana Diarra Beguiling mixture of defensive and attacking abilities and comfortable on the ball. Distribution was sometimes adventurous and always judicious, but lost his cool in the shoot-out. 6

Pedro Mendes His enthusiasm could not stop him being outclassed, but he did a decent job keeping tabs on the United midfield, offering a thin but useful layer of protection for the defence. 5

Niko Kranjcar Likes to cut inside so was not a fruitful source of width or crosses for Crouch. In fact, not a great source of anything, except languid and irrelevant midfield meanderings. 4

Peter Crouch Struggled to strike up much of an understanding with Defoe and there was little rapport between his foot and the ball either. A few flick-ons and layoffs were all he had to show for his toil. 5

Jermain Defoe Tried hard, to limited effect. Produced one exciting run through the defence, who caught him just before he could shoot. A shot near the end of the first half went horribly wide. 6

Substitutes: John Utaka for Kranjcar, 60 5; Arnold Mvuemba for Mendes, 75; Lauren for Hreidarsson, 79. Substitutes not used: Jamie Ashdown, Ben Sahar, Martin Cranie, Djimi Traoré. Booked: Distin.

Referee: Peter Walton 7.