European Super Cup, Eden Arena, Prague – Bayern Munich 2 (Ribery 47, Martinez 120+1) Chelsea 2 (Torres 8, Hazard 93); Bayern win 5-4 on penalties
Bayern Munich equalised with the last kick of the game before beating Chelsea on penalties to claim the European Super Cup at the Eden Arena in Prague.
Javi Martinez levelled at 2-2 in the final seconds of extra-time
after Chelsea had moved in front, despite the sending off of Ramires on
86 minutes.Fernando Torres had put Chelsea ahead with a superb drive after a rapid counter-attack. Early in the second period, Franck Ribery – who picked up UEFA’s best player award the previous night – levelled with a screamer from range.
Chelsea were under the cosh, but later they had some superb chances as Oscar missed a one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, while Branislav Ivanovic hit the bar.
David Luiz was denied by a brilliant Neuer save, and with five minutes left Ramires was shown a second yellow card for an awful tackle on Mario Goetze. It should have been a straight red.
The match went to extra-time and Chelsea edged back ahead when a long-range Hazard shot went through Neuer’s hands.
Cech made several brilliant saves and it seemed the Prague native’s heroics would see Chelsea through – but in the final seconds of extra time substitute Javi Martinez finished after Chelsea failed to deal with a high ball into the box.
Penalties followed, with both sides perfect until – at 5-4 – Romelu Lukaku stood up for Chelsea. He did not look confident and sent a weak penalty straight at Neuer. The Belgian was distraught but both clubs have bigger fish to fry this season, with new coaches and players looking to gel in highly competitive leagues.
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH: Spain duo left out again – Both first XIs were notable for absentees. Injuries aside, the benching of Spain duo Javi Martinez and Juan Mata raised eyebrows. Both were arguably their teams’ best players last season, but both appear to be out of favour with their new coaches. Martinez may have recently had a groin problem, but he was not Pep Guardiola’s first choice in pre-season and it seems odd to use full-back Lahm in his place. Mata, meanwhile, was immediately linked with a Chelsea exit after Jose Mourinho arrived, but his manager insists he will not be sold, despite picking others ahead of him, including Fernando Torres. Martinez came on and his strike forced penalties, while Mata watched on.
8' GOAL CHELSEA! A typical Mourinho counter-attack started by Torres, Hazard running from halfway before feeding Schurrle wide right - super cross from him and Torres, having continued his run and escaped Dante, smashed a wicked finish into the top right.
21' GREAT SAVE BY CECH! A fantastic low drive from Ribery was headed bottom right, but a stretching Cech palmed it behind.
31' ALMOST A SECOND FOR TORRES! He twisted inside and out of Dante before smashing a surprise effort inches over the bar! Super wingplay by Schurrle in the build-up!
37' ALMOST AN EQUALISER! Superb weighted low pass by Robben to send Mueller through on the right, but a superb flying block by Cahill puts the finish wide. Corner.
47’ BAYERN LEVEL! What a strike from Ribery, typical from him as he cuts in from the left to blast it past Cech, who got a touch.
63’ CHELSEA HAD TO SCORE! Oscar fluffs a one-on-one with Neuer, who saves well. Dante made the original error to put Schurrle in.
67’ Goal-saving tackle by Ashley Cole on Thomas Mueller!
69’ Oscar again misses a good chance, finishing weakly at Neuer.
78’ CHELSEA HIT THE BAR! Ivanovic from the Lampard corner, massive header, Bayern scramble it clear!
85’Amazing save from Neuer to deny Luiz’s bullet header! Shades of Gordon Banks!
86’ RAMIRES SENT OFF! Shocking challenge on Goetze, two-footed and over the top. Second yellow but easily a straight red.
93’ HAZARD SCORES FOR CHELSEA! A superb fizzing low drive but Neuer should have kept that out!
108, 109, 119’ – A trio of world-class saves from Cech, denying Mandzukic, Martinez and Ribery.
102+1’ – GOAL BAYERN! At the death Martinez drills it home after a high ball into the Chelsea box. Penalties.
PENALTIES – Alaba, Kroos, Lahm, Ribery and Shaqiri all net for Bayern; Luiz, Oscar, Lampard and Cole score for Chelsea, but Lukaku misses.
TALKING POINT: It is a small dose of revenge for Bayern, who were beaten on spot-kicks by the Blues in the 2012 Champions League final, and continues Pep Guardiola’s winning streak against Jose Mourinho, albeit with different clubs. In the end Guardiola’s decision to use Martinez reaped rewards, as Mata looked on from the bench.
MATCHCAST: FULL COMMENTARY AND RATINGS
KEY STATS
This is the first time Bayern or indeed any German side have won the Super Cup
Fernando Torres has now scored in eight different competitions for Chelsea, four domestic, three European and one international
Lukaku misplaced 57 per cent of his passes, received a booking and missed a penalty
MAN OF THE MATCH
Petr Cech (Chelsea) – Despite being on the losing side, Cech made a string of world-class saves. That he gets the nod shows how much pressure Bayern placed on Chelsea.
PLAYER RATINGS
BAYERN: Neuer 6, Rafinha 6, Alaba 7, Boateng 7, Dante 5, Lahm 6, Kroos 6, Ribery 7, Robben 6, Mueller 6, Mandzukic 6; Subs: Martinez 7, Shaqiri 6, Goetze 6
CHELSEA: Cech 8, Ivanovic 6, Cole 7, Luiz 6, Cahill 7, Ramires 5, Lampard 6, Schurrle 7, Hazard 7, Oscar 7, Torres 7; Terry 6, Mikel 6, Lukaku 5
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