Two years ago, Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be taken off in the closing minutes of a Carabao Cup match when coach Mauricio Sarri wanted to bring on Willy Caballero for penalty kicks before losing to Manchester City. On Wednesday, it was Kepa brought on in the closing minutes, and this time he came off as a winner.
With Édouard Mendy heeding his coach and coming off before penalties, Chelsea edged Villarreal 6-5 in the shootout after a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday in Belfast. Kepa made two saves, denying Aïssa Mandi and, with the final kick of the match, Raúl Albiol.
KEPA DENIES VILLARREAL TO WIN CHELSEA THE UEFA SUPER CUP pic.twitter.com/tj6tJqxw3s
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 11, 2021
Christian Pulisic was one of six Blues to convert from the spot, confidently putting away the sixth attempt. So impressive was his spot kick, one wonders why he wasn’t in the first five and not Kai Havertz, whose tame effort was the only one Sergio Asenjo managed to keep out.
Pulisic played nearly 80 minutes after coming on as a first-half sub for the injured Hakim Ziyech, who opened the scoring 27 minutes in.
HAKIM ZIYECH STRIKES FIRST pic.twitter.com/bZGK32ppv9
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 11, 2021
Villarreal equalized after a lovely piece of play finished off by Gerard Moreno.
BACKHEEL ASSIST. TOP CORNER FINISH. GERARD MORENO FINDS THE EQUALIZER. pic.twitter.com/jvQu9HB3b2
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 11, 2021
All three keepers had impressive games, with Mendy making four saves, Asenjo six and Kepa two PK stops. But if I’m being honest, I really wanted Mendy to pull the same shit Kepa pulled on Caballero two years ago, which nearly started a mutiny at Chelsea.
Crazy scenes at Wembley!
Maurizio Sarri tried to bring on Caballero for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who simply refused to leave the field. pic.twitter.com/PI3E7rWqE0— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 24, 2019
Kepa comes on for Chelsea pic.twitter.com/esmZfldPVG
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 11, 2021
Pulisic and Chelsea open the Premier League season against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
