Chelsea Crowned UEFA Super Cup Champs!
12 August, 2021
Chelsea claimed their first trophy for the 2021/2022 season after defeating Villarreal on penalties to secure the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night.
UEFA Super Cup
Result: Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (Chelsea won 6-5 on penalties)
Date: 11 August 2021
Venue: Windsor Park
Blues coach Thomas Tuchel handed a debut to Trevor Chalobah in defence while Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech were named in the attack.
Werner nearly got the breakthrough after five minutes after getting on the end of a Ziyech's corner at the back post but his header was superbly kept out by Sergio Asenjo.
With Villarreal struggling to create, the Champions League holders got their reward on 26 minutes when Werner got beyond the defence at the other to pick out Ziyech who sent a first-time past Asenjo.
The Spanish outfit almost carved out an equaliser out of nothing soon after when Boulaye Dia was slipped through on goal, but the striker was denied by his countryman Eduoard Mendy in a one-on-one situation.
Unai Emery's men went agonisingly close just before the break when Alberto Moreno rattled the crossbar at the far post just minutes after Ziyech was forced off with an injury.
The woodwork came to Chelsea's rescue for a second time after a poor clearance from Mendy found Bia, who in-turn played Gerardo Moreno through on goal but his strike hit the upright.
After Tuchel had re-shuffled his pack, Villarreal got their equaliser in the 73rd minute as Moreno played a give-and-go with Bia before firing into the top corner.
Both sides pushed for a winning goal in the latter stages, but they were unable to find a clear-cut opening as the encounter would head to extra-time.
It turned out the extra 30 minutes would not fare any better as the players certainly looked with the season just getting started, which ultimately forced the game to penalties and Chelsea managed to introduce goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for Mendy just before extra-time concluded for the shoot-out.
That decision certainly paid off as the Kepa produced two saves in the shoot-out as the Blues won 6-5 to claim their first Super Cup title.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za