Community Shield: Aubameyang Seals Arsenal Win vs. Liverpool

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinched the Community Shield for Arsenal with his penalty securing a 5-4 shootout victory over Liverpool. (AP)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinched the Community Shield for Arsenal with his penalty securing a 5-4 shootout victory over Liverpool. (AP)
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Community Shield: Aubameyang Seals Arsenal Win vs. Liverpool

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinched the Community Shield for Arsenal with his penalty securing a 5-4 shootout victory over Liverpool. (AP)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinched the Community Shield for Arsenal with his penalty securing a 5-4 shootout victory over Liverpool. (AP)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinched the Community Shield for Arsenal with his penalty securing a 5-4 shootout victory over Liverpool on Saturday in the curtain-raiser to a season that is beginning late and without fans due to the pandemic.

The game was settled on penalties at Wembley Stadium after Takumi Minamino's first goal for Liverpool in the 73rd minute canceled out Aubameyang's early opener.

The Arsenal captain latched onto Bukayo Saka’s diagonal pass before curling into the net and paying tribute in the goal celebration to actor Chadwick Boseman, who died the previous day of cancer at the age of 43.

He performed the “Wakanda Forever” salute that has become a symbol to celebrate black excellence since being performed by Boseman's character in the 2018 film, “Black Panther."

Arsenal tweeted an image of Aubameyang folding his arms across his chest with the message: “For Chadwick."

Aubameyang also scored twice at Wembley in both the FA Cup semifinals and final.

Arsenal beat Premier League champion Liverpool to lift the Community Shield at the end of the same month that it picked up the FA Cup.

The Premier League season starts a month later than originally scheduled on Sept. 12.



Relief for Belgium but Questions for the Defense After Dramatic Win Over Wales 

Belgium's midfielder #07 Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring Belgium's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J European qualification football match between Belgium and Wales at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, on June 9, 2025. (AFP)
Belgium's midfielder #07 Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring Belgium's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J European qualification football match between Belgium and Wales at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, on June 9, 2025. (AFP)
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Relief for Belgium but Questions for the Defense After Dramatic Win Over Wales 

Belgium's midfielder #07 Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring Belgium's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J European qualification football match between Belgium and Wales at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, on June 9, 2025. (AFP)
Belgium's midfielder #07 Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring Belgium's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J European qualification football match between Belgium and Wales at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, on June 9, 2025. (AFP)

There was relief for Belgium after scraping through a dramatic World Cup qualifier against Wales on Monday, but plenty for coach Rudi Garcia to ponder after a narrow 4-3 home win.

Belgium had been cruising at 3-0 up inside the first half-hour of the Group J match at the King Baudouin Stadium but Wales fought back to 3-3 with 20 minutes left before Kevin De Bruyne grabbed the winner two minutes from time.

"The most important thing is that we won. Psychologically it is tough to give away a three-goal lead, but we showed our mental strength," said Garcia after Belgium's second game in their qualifying group for the 2026 finals in North America.

"We kept fighting. It is symbolic that Kevin of all people scored the winning goal."

De Bruyne had been a key factor throughout, ghosting in at the back post to convert Youri Tielemans’ cross for the winner.

Tielemans, who was captain for the night, said relief was the primary emotion after the game.

"We are happy with the victory, but we know that should not have happened to us," he said of the Welsh comeback.

"I have no explanation for how that happened. But the craziest things can happen with the national team.

"We felt we could finish the match earlier, but then we dropped off a bit. Then we conceded a goal and their confidence grew. They were simply the better team at that moment.

"We had to defend together as a team, choose the right moment to react and get back into the match but we didn't do that well."

Belgium conceded a late equalizer in their group opener against North Macedonia on Friday and the defense will come under more scrutiny after allowing Wales to score three.

Belgium travel to Liechtenstein on Sept. 4 for their next qualifier before hosting Kazakhstan three days later.