Champions League winners Chelsea added another piece of silverware to their trophy room after beating Villarreal on penalties in Dublin to win the UEFA Super Cup.
The match was tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, and then again after 120 minutes of football, so the two sides headed to a penalty shootout. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel switched keepers before the end of extra time, subbing in Kepa Arrizabalaga whose contribution proved essential to the game’s outcome.
A superb goal from Hakim Ziyech made it 1-0 for Chelsea in the first half before Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno hit the crossbar following a beautiful volley before the break. The Spanish forward had another shot on goal deflected into the post by Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy. Moreno’s persistence finally paid off in the 73rd minute, as he finished off a beautiful collective play from the Europa League winners to equalize.
🟡 Gerard Moreno = 2021 #SuperCup Man of the Match 👠pic.twitter.com/sfJiXfJmac
— #SuperCup (@ChampionsLeague) August 11, 2021
As a result, the Super Cup, hosted at Windsor Park in Belfast, could only be decided on penalties. Tuchel sent Arrizabalaga in to replace goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with seconds left to play, and his mind-game worked.
The Spanish keeper parried two shots from his compatriots, including Raul Albiol’s decisive penalty, and gave Tuchel his second trophy since he took over. The coach won his second cup after just 31 games in charge; he could have had three if Chelsea hadn’t lost the FA Cup final to Leicester in May.
So wholesome. 💙 pic.twitter.com/vuJa0DCTPy
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 11, 2021
After enjoying Euro 2020 glory in Italy’s shirt one month ago, midfielder Jorginho added another medal to his collection. On the other hand, Pau Torres, Villarreal’s defender, lost to Italy in the Euros semifinals and lost in the Olympics’ final against Brazil, only to return from Tokyo to face another defeat in the Super Cup.
