CHELSEA are the Super Cup champions after a tense penalty shootout win over Villarreal.
Kepa was the Blues hero, with the stopper coming off the bench to deny Aissa Mandi and Raul Albiol from 12 yards.
Earlier in the game, Hakim Ziyech had fired Chelsea ahead before going off with a nasty shoulder injury.
Gerard Moreno sent the game to extra-time, before Kepa emerged from the dugout to hand Chelsea victory in the shootout.
- Final score: Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (6-5 pens)
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GOODBYE
The season has begun just as the last one ended: with Chelsea celebrating European silverware.
It was a tough 120 minutes for many of Thomas Tuchel’s players but the Blues pulled through to triumph on penalties with substitute goalkeeper the hero, saving two Villarreal spotkicks.
The Londoners must now rest, refocus and prepare for their Premier League opener with Crystal Palace on Saturday. There’s a long campaign ahead, and we simply cannot wait.
From Windsor Park in Belfast, thank you for joining us and goodnight.
CHELSEA’S CHAMPIONS
The Italian pair of Jorginho and Emerson just keep on winning.
Jorginho is a 10/1 shot for the Ballon D’or.
DROG DELIGHT
One of Chelsea’s former European heroes has wasted no time in taking to Twitter to express his joy at his former club claiming more silverware.
Didier Drogba now hopes that Chelsea can add the one trophy that eludes them, the Club World Cup that takes place in Japan in December.
KEPA ALWAYS THE PLAN
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed that Kepa Arrizabalaga has always been his go-to for penalty shootouts since he first arrived at the club. The German coach has been speaking as his players celebrate on the Windsor Park pitch.
It was not spontaneous. We talked about it with the goalkeepers when we came and had our first cup game against Barnsley. We had some statistics that Kepa has the best percentage when it comes to saving penalties. The analysing guys and goalkeeper coaches introduced me to the data, and then we spoke to the players and told them that this could happen when we play in knockout games. It’s fantastic how Edou[ard Mendy] accepts it. We needed to do what was good for the team. There is proof that Kepa is better at this discipline. These guys are true team players. I am happy for Kepa and happy for Edou.
Thomas Tuchel
UP FOR THE CUP
After applauding the Villarreal players as they collected their runners-up medals, it’s now the turn of the Chelsea squad to step up on to the podium.
One by one, the Blues players – including the injured Hakim Ziyech – receive their winners’ medals, some touching the trophy as they pass.
Cesar Azpilicueta is last up, and receives the Super Cup trophy, which he excitedly takes over to his gathered teammates – and then up it goes!
Chelsea are Super Cup champions.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Having previously lost the Super Cup final on penalties to Bayern Munich and Liverpool, the Chelsea class of 2021 having finally got it right.
STAMFORD BRIDGE SUPER STARS
Chelsea are about to get their hands on another European trophy.
KEPA LOAD OF THIS
Much maligned during his Chelsea career, Kepa Arrizabalaga has come up trumps in the final of the Super Cup to help his side prevail on penalties.
RAUL ALBIOL NOW
SAVED!
CHELSEA WIN THE SUPER CUP!A weak penalty, saved low to his right by Kepa Arrizabalaga!
Chelsea 6-5
The Chelsea goalkeeper is mobbed after his two saves in the shootout with first choice stopper Edouard Mendy the first to celebrate with his teammate.
ANTONIO RUDIGER
GOAL!A straight run from the defender, who powers his effort beyond Asenjo.
Chelsea 6-5 Villarreal
JUAN FOYTH FOR VILLARREAL!
SCORES!Tottenham fans celebrate their former player.
Chelsea 5-5 Villarreal
CHRISTIAN PULISIC
SCORES!Nicely done from the American.
Chelsea 5-4 Villarreal
DANIEL RABA MUST SCORE
AND DOES SCORE!Expertly so too, sending Kepa the wrong way as he sweeps right.
Now it’s sudden death.
Chelsea 4-4 Villarreal
JORGINHO
A HOP, SKIP AND SCORES!He rolls it down the middle.
Villarreal must score the final kick.
Chelsea 4-3 Villarreal
MOI GOMEZ NOW
BOTTOM CORNER!The referee makes him respot the ball, but it has no effect as Gomez powers a right footer into the bottom corner.
Chelsea 3-3 Villarreal
MASON MOUNT STEPS UP AND…
SCORES!If only he’d still been on for England.
Chelsea 3-2 Villarreal
IT’S PERVIS ESTUPINAN
COOLY DONE!The Villarreal defender waits for Kepa to move, and then sends the ball the other way.
Chelsea 2-2 Villarreal
OVER TO MARCOS ALONSO
IN IT GOES!The Chelsea man slips as he converts but sends Sergio Asenjo the wrong way.
Chelsea 2-1 Villarreal
IT’S MANDI FOR VILLARREAL!
SAVED!It’s a weak penalty, pushed out by Kepa low to his right.
Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal
CESAR AZPILICUETA STEPS UP
PERFECT!The Chelsea captain places right in the corner.
Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal
HERE’S GERARD MORENO
SCORES!He sends Kepa the wrong way, and converts off the inside of the post.
Chelsea 0-1 Villarreal
KAI HAVERTZ STEPS UP…
SAVED BY SERGIO ASENJO!Chelsea 0-0 Villarreal
HERE WE GO!
The penalties will be taken at the Villarreal end of Windsor Park.
Chelsea will kick first.
AET: CHELSEA 1-1 VILLARREAL
One-all at 90 minutes, and 1-1 at the end of 120 minutes, the 2021 Super Cup final will be settled by a penalty shootout. The most notable moment of extra-time was Chelsea replacing their first choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with Kepa Arrizabalaga in the final minute, primarily for spotkicks.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE SUPER CUP WILL BE SETTLED BY PENALTIES!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
