Kepa Arrizabalaga emerged as the penalty shootout hero for Chelsea on Wednesday as they overcame Villarreal to win this year’s Super Cup.
Both teams were tied 1-1 after 120 minutes of action and even after the first five penalty kicks they were still inseparable.
However, in the sudden death, Arrizabalaga made the crucial save (the second on the night) that saw Chelsea winning the Super Cup for the second time in their history after doing that 23 years ago.
Chelsea came into the game having won the Champions League last season, beating Manchester City in the final, while Villarreal beat Manchester United in the final of the Europa League to lift the first title of their history.
It was Chelsea that took the lead a few minutes before the half-hour mark, through Hakim Ziyech but the Morrocan departed with a suspected dislocated shoulder moments after.
Villarreal equalised heading into the final 15 minutes; Moreno played a smart one-two before converting superbly with his weaker right foot.
With the scores level at 120 minutes following Thomas Tuchel brought in Kepa to replace Edouard Mendy in the final moments of extra-time specifically for the shootout – and it proved the right call as the Spaniard proved decisive.
With this win, Chelsea, have become only the 11th team in UEFA Super Cup history to have won the competition on multiple occasions.
As for Unai Emery, his poor run in the Super Cup continues with this latest defeat which is his third attempt.
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