Windsor Park in Belfast was the place where Chelsea played the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal. We got the player ratings.
Football officially returned with the UEFA Super Cup final between Chelsea and Villarreal at Windsor Park, in Belfast. With a nearly full crowd in the stadium, things keep getting back to normal in a slow fashion. Despite their evident better roster, the Blues suffered tonight against a modest Villarreal side that wanted to get some silverware. During the first half, N’Golo Kante dominated the game with his usual defensive work. He was the one who cleared the space for Kai Havertz’s assist to Hakim Ziyech.
Before the first half-hour of the game, Chelsea was already winning the game with a brilliant collective play. But things got twisted for Thomas Tuchel’s squad just before halftime. Ziyech suffered a serious injury that needed to take him off the pitch. After the break, we could see him with an immobilized arm. He is getting the proper scans after the match. The Morrocan star’s absence was all Villarreal needed in order to get confident against Chelsea.
Gerard Moreno seals the draw with a beauty.
Despite their dominance, Chelsea soon found their match in a determined Villarreal side that was only stopped by Edouard Mendy’s brilliant saves. However, this luck didn’t last for much longer as Dia set Gerard Moreno up for a brilliant equalizer with a backheel assist. After the draw was set, neither side was able to get an advantage. We got to experience the first extra time of the season in a major tournament. Near the end of the first extra time, Christian Pulisic blew a chance that could’ve given Chelsea the title. In the second extra time, Sergio Asenjo made a tremendous save after a Mason Mount clear chance.
Thomas Tuchel decided to get Kepa on the pitch for the penalty shootout, it was his time to shine. The penalty shootout gave Villarreal an initial boost with Sergio Asenjo saving the initial penalty from Havertz. Gerard Moreno scored the first for his side with a little drama after hitting the post. Azpilicueta didn’t miss despite Asenjo’s correct effort. Kepa fulfilled his task by saving Mandi’s shot and leveling things up again. Alonso scored his shot by deceiving Asenjo despite slipping as he took his shot. Estupiñan didn’t blink against Kepa to score his shot. Mason Mount was on point as well. In the end, Kepa delivered by saving Raul Albiol’s penalty in a dramatic shootout. Chelsea are the UEFA Super Cup champions over a brave Villarreal.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Mendy (8), Alonso (7), Zouma (7), Rudiger (6), Chalobah (7), Kovacic (7), Kante (8), Ziyech (7), Hudson-Odoi (7), Havertz (8), Werner (7).
Bench: Pulisic (7), Jorginho (6), Mount (6), Christensen (6), Azpilicueta (5), Kepa (9).
Villarreal: Asenjo (7), Albiol (5), Capoue (6), Torres (6), Moreno (7), Foyth (6), Trigueros (6), Pedraza (6), Pino (7), Moreno (7), Dia (6).
Bench: Estupiñan (6), Gaspar (6), Gomez (6), Morlanes (6), Raba (5), Mandi (5).
Feel free to make your pick on player’s ratings and performances in the widget below.
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