{"id":22723,"date":"2021-08-11T11:29:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T15:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22723"},"modified":"2021-08-13T11:33:34","modified_gmt":"2021-08-13T15:33:34","slug":"kepa-comes-off-the-bench-to-help-chelsea-win-uefa-super-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22723","title":{"rendered":"Kepa Comes Off The Bench To Help Chelsea Win UEFA Super Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Chelsea celebrate winning the UEFA Super Cup (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kepa Arrizabalaga came off the bench to save two penalties and earn Chelsea Super Cup success in a shoot-out victory over Villarreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Tuchel made the call to replace Edouard Mendy in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw \u2013 with Kepa then providing the heroics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kai 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 the shoot-out 6-5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hakim Ziyech shone from the start and opened the scoring only to injure his shoulder before half-time to give Thomas Tuchel a worry ahead of the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For their large spells of dominance, Chelsea\u2019s goal lived a charmed life as Villareal twice hit the woodwork before the prolific Gerard Moreno drew them level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was the end of the scoring as the tie was settled on penalties with Tuchel\u2019s decision to bring on Kepa moments before the shoot-out proving to be inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He kept the same starting XI which played in their final pre-season game against Tottenham and the Champions League holders started well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just over 300 miles away Romelu Lukaku was touching down at Biggin Hill airport to complete his return to the club and it was Timo Werner, playing in the center-forward role the Belgian is being recruited to fill, whose controlled volley forced a first save out of Sergio Asenjo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Chelsea took the lead in the 27th minute as Ziyech capped a dominant start by turning home a Havertz cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Villarreal debutant Boulaye Dia provided the first real test for Mendy as the first half wore on with the Premier League side in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcos Alonso had a fine chance to double the lead soon after but his low drive was turned away by Asenjo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goalscorer Ziyech was forced off with a shoulder injury just before the interval as Christian Pulisic replaced the Morocco international.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were bookings for Antonio Rudiger and Tuchel before Alberto Moreno cracked against the crossbar with a vicious volley on the stroke of half-time as Chelsea went in ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreno\u2019s effort not only rattled the woodwork but also, too, Chelsea\u2019s confidence as Villarreal came out after the interval on the front foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An error from Mendy allowed Gerard through on goal but the Blues goalkeeper recovered superbly to tip the Spain striker\u2019s effort onto the post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other minor mistakes went unpunished but Unai Emery would have been pleased with the reaction he saw from his players in a similar vein to their Europa League final comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The equalizer arrived as a scruffy Rudiger pass was pounced on by Villarreal, with Dia squaring for Gerard to turn home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea reacted well to being pegged back but could not find a winner in normal time, with the 30 minutes of extra-time proving an attritional affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pulisic missed a half-decent chance while substitute Mason Mount forced a good save out of Asenjo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Villarreal goalkeeper then saved the first penalty of the shoot-out as Havertz was kept out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Cesar Azpilicueta, Alonso, Mount, Jorginho, Pulisic and Rudiger were all successful, while Mandi and Albiol\u2019s poor efforts were saved by Kepa to win the cup for the Blues.<\/p>\n

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