Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (6-5 on pens): Kepa the hero

News Desk
Chelsea

Chelsea have beaten Villarreal 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Super Cup to claim their first piece of silverware this season.

Thomas Tuchel named the same starting XI from the friendly draw with Tottenham last week.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game as the Londoners beat Manchester City in last season’s Champions League final and he was named in a front three alongside compatriot Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.


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Trevoh Chalobah made his competitive debut as part of a back-three which also comprised Kurt Zouma and Antonio Rudiger.

Tammy Abraham was named on the bench with the England striker’s Stamford Bridge future still uncertain.

Villarreal saw off Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out to win the Europa League and book a slot in the Super Cup at Belfast’s Windsor Park.

Gerard Moreno levelled for the LaLiga side in the Europa final and was again named in attack by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery.

Chelsea took the lead on 27 minutes as Ziyech capped a dominant start for Tuchel’s side by turning home a Havertz cross.

Goalscorer Ziyech had been in fine form in the first half but was forced off with a shoulder injury just before the interval as Christian Pulisic replaced the Morocco international.

There were bookings for Rudiger and Tuchel before Alberto Moreno rattled the crossbar with a vicious volley on the stroke of half-time as Chelsea went in ahead.

Gerard Moreno followed his namesake in hitting the post soon after the restart as Villarreal came out much more lively.

The high-scoring striker would not get it wrong with his next chance, Rudiger giving away possession and Boulaye Dia ultimately feeding Moreno to level.

Chelsea reacted well to the leveller but could not find a second goal to prevent the game going to extra-time.

There would be nothing to separate the sides over 120 minutes, with Tuchel opting to bring on substitute goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for the impending penalty shoot-out.

The move proved to be inspired as Kepa saved two penalties to earn Chelsea victory in the shoot-out.

Havertz missed the first spot-kick but after that Chelsea were perfect while both Aissa Mandi and Raul Albiol both saw their penalties saved as Chelsea won 6-5.