Chelsea seized the European Super Cup for the second time in club history on Wednesday evening. The Blues took on Villarreal at Windsor Park in Belfast, who were defeated on penalties. The scoreboard indicated a 1-1 score after the extension, after which the winner of the Champions League took the penalties better, partly thanks to a late goalkeeper change: 6-5. The game was marred for Hakim Ziyech in the 39th minute when he seemed to twist his shoulder unhappily in a header against Juan Foyth. He was forced to be replaced by Christian Pulisic. Twelve minutes before his substitution, the Moroccan international scored the opening goal.
Manager Thomas Tuchel had made a starting spot for Ziyech, who formed the attack trio together with Timo Werner and Havertz. The coach was not yet able to have a fully fit group of players, as a number of names only reported to the club later because of participation in the European Championship 2020. Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount, Jorginho and Andreas Christensen, among others, started from the bench. Boulaye Dia made his debut at Villarreal, filling the gap left by Carlos Bacca, who left for Granada.
From the first whistle, it was Chelsea that sought the attack. In the sixth minute of play, Werner had a good opportunity to open the score with his head, but goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo saved the bet in a feline way. In the 22nd minute of play, Ziyech came close to the enemy goal for the first time. Werner steamed up on the left side of the field and should have delivered a cross to the completely released Ziyech, but the German did not see the free man and ran the ball over the back line.
??-?? ???????? ??????????? ????????????! Chelsea have been on the attack a lot and are now finishing it. Ziyech can work the ball in after a good running action. #chevil pic.twitter.com/tfz2Q6X4fq
— VTBL ? (@vtbl) August 11, 2021
It was the turn of the former Ajax player when the 27th minute arrived. Havertz came on from the left and had a nice through ball on Ziyech, who suddenly, consciously or unconsciously, worked the ball behind Asenjo: 1-0. Shortly after the opening goal, Villarreal handed out a pinprick via Dia, but goalkeeper Édouard Mendy was well aware and saved. Ten minutes before half time, Ziyech showed himself twice again. First he had a hard and low cross in the house to Marcos Alonso, who, however, saw his subsequent attempt dived from the bottom left corner by Asenjo. A minute later, Kurt Zouma failed to tap in from a free kick from the hanging right winger.
In the 39th minute, disaster struck for Ziyech in a header duel with Foyth, in which the victim appeared to twist his arm or shoulder unhappily. After treatment by the medical staff, it turned out that Ziyech could not continue. The stretcher that was present was not necessary, because the offensive midfielder was able to walk off the field independently. He did, however, keep his right arm bent against his body. He also had a face contorted with pain. “But it is in any case very wrong, because he does not just go out,” concluded Wesley Sneijder at half time.
End of game for goalscorer Hakim Ziyech. The Moroccan makes an unnatural movement with his arm and cannot go any further. #chevil pic.twitter.com/T9nAQEGs8E
— VTBL ? (@vtbl) August 11, 2021
In the first act, Villarreal hardly appeared in the scene until the last minute. Alberto Moreno got the ball close to the enemy’s goal, but hit the crossbar with his swipe. Shortly after the restart, the woodwork again stood in the way of a goal for the Spaniards. Goalkeeper made a mistake with a slide and Gerard Moreno hoped to take advantage; however, his attempt hit the post.
Fifteen minutes before the end, the suddenly attacking Villarreal found the deserved equalizer. Dia had a measured pass to Moreno, who worked the leather against the ropes from within the box: 1-1. Just before that, Pervis Estupiñán made a futile attempt on goal. In the remainder of the game, both teams went looking for the winning goal. However, it was not found before the end of regulation time. In the hundredth minute, Pulisic had the best chance of the first part of the extension. After a cross, the ball ended up at the feet of the American via Havertz, who took a right from close range, but shot just wide.
In the second half of extra time, Mount had the 2-1 on his shoe. Pulisic reached the Englishman after a successful dribble in the axis of the field, after which a hard shot followed. However, Asenjo reacted alertly and converted Mount’s effort into a corner. When Tuchel saw that the game was going to end in penalties, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was allowed to warm up to replace Mendy. In the end, Chelsea took the longest in the penalty shootout: six to five used penalties. Kai Havertz’s miss was defused by the failures of Aissa Mandi and Raúl Albiol on behalf of the Spaniards. Tuchel’s last minute substitution was excellent: Kepa took both penalties.