THE SUPER SUB

 

Image Credit- Nepal News. 

It was the 46th edition of UEFA Super Cup. UEFA Super Cup is an annual tournament played between the winners of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.  This year's match was played between English Club Chelsea (UCL Winners) and Spanish Club Villareal (UEL Winners) at Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

Chelsea scored the opening goal in the 27th minute of the game wherein Kai Havertz's low cross from the left was swept into the net by Hakim Ziyech.  However just before the half-time Ziyech was substituted because of a shoulder injury. 

Villarreal made a comeback in the second half and scored an equalizer in the 73rd minute of the game. At the end of 90 minutes the score read 1-1. Even after extra time the score remained 1-1. But just in the final seconds of the game Chelsea made a substitution. They replaced their goalkeeper Mendy with Kepa and this turned out as a masterstroke.

In the penalty shootout, Kepa made 2 crucial saves and Chelsea won the finals 6-5 on penalties. The Super Sub did his job. 

It is pertinent to note that this is Thomas Tuchel's second European trophy with Chelsea in a span of  just 7 months.