CHELSEA CLAIMED EARLY season silverware tonight in Belfast after their 6-5 penalty shootout win saw them overcome Villarreal.
Two penalty saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga – his only touches of the match – won the Uefa Super Cup for Chelsea at Belfast’s Windsor Park. The Blues keeper was brought on for Edouard Mendy in the final moments of extra time and his saves in the subsequent shoot-out were decisive.
Kai Havertz missed Chelsea’s opening penalty but Marcos Alonso, Mason Mount, Jorginho, Christian Pulisic and Antonio Rudiger all scored. And Kepa, who had earlier kept out Aïssa Mandi’s spot-kick, clinched victory for Chelsea by saving from Raul Albiol.
The game finished 1-1 after normal time and no further goals arrived in extra time. Hakim Ziyech had put Chelsea ahead in the 27th minute before Villarreal equalised courtesy of Gerard Moreno in the 73rd minute.
Chelsea had been crowned Champions League winners with a 1-0 victory over Man City in May, while Villarreal had won the Europa League final after their 11-10 penalty shootout success against Man United.
More to follow…
