Chelsea are the Super Cup champions after a tense penalty shootout win over Villarreal. One-all at 90 minutes, and 1-1 at the end of 120 minutes, the 2021 Super Cup final is 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. Kepa guard Tuchel’s men to win Super Cup.
2021 UEFA Super Cup
1-1
Match Report
Chelsea took the lead first just before the half-hour mark as Hakim Ziyech broke in at the far post to connect to Kai Havertz's cut-back cross. Sergio Asenjo was left with no chance and Chelsea took the lead having been the dominant side within the first 30 minutes.
Ziyech's evening didn't end as he'd hoped though, forced off after an innocuous collision at a corner which left him with what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder.
Villarreal grew into the tie, former Liverpool man Alberto Moreno rattling the crossbar before the break and Gerard Moreno hitting the post early in the second half, with Chelsea allowing the Spaniards into the tie with some misplaced passes at the back.
The latter of the two aforementioned Morenos didn't need asking twice and took his chance to become the club's record goalscorer on 83.
Antonio Rudiger stepped up and he burst inside to find space unmarked in the box and clip the ball beyond Edouard Mendy.
Showing the signs of rustiness which can be expected at this stage of the season, neither side could find a breakthrough to win the match in either 90 or 120 minutes.
Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy didn't make it as far as the penalty shootout, though, as Thomas Tuchel gambled and brought on Kepa Arrizabalaga for the shoot-out.
It was the other Spanish goalkeeper, Asenjo, who wanted to become the hero by denying Kai Havertz with the very first penalty of the shootout, but Kepa's save from Aissa Mandi levelled the score.
The substitute would be the man to make the difference as he denied Villarreal captain Raul Albiol to win the Super Cup for Chelsea for only the second time in their history, the first since 1998.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
9' CLOSE! Kante's long shot inches wide
24' CHANCE! Chalobah's shot blocked
26' GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Villarreal (Ziyech)
72' GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (Gerard Moreno)
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Alonso, Kovacic, Zouma, Rudiger, E. Mendy, Kante, Werner, Ziyech, T. Chalobah, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi
Subs: Thiago Silva, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Emerson, Kepa, Christensen, Loftus-Cheek, Abraham, Mount, Chilwell, Pulisic, Reece James
Villarreal XI: Albiol, Asenjo, Capoue, G. Moreno, Trigueros, Moreno, Pedraza, P. Torres, Foyth, Yeremi Pino, B. Dia
Subs: Iborra, Gaspar, Mandi, G. Rulli, Alcacer, Moi Gómez, R.Peña, Manu Morlanes, P. Estupiñán, Dani Raba, Jorge Cuenca, Fer Niño