Liverpool Wins the UEFA Super Cup, Defeat Chelsea After Penalties, 2-2 (5-4 agg.)

Liverpool has won the UEFA Super Cup trophy, after defeating Chelsea following a penalty shootout. It was 2-2 after extra time, but the Reds managed to win 5-4 on penalties. The hero of Liverpool’s night in Istanbul was the goalkeeper Adrian who stopped Tammy Abraham’s shot in the fifth series. It was the only missed penalty of the night.

Previously Kepa Arizabalaga was near to stopping two Liverpool’s penalties, but the inches worked against him this Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Blues, the luck was on L’Pool’s side.

Liverpool opened the match very strong pressuring the rival very high and not allowing them to seize the control of the ball. Chelsea adapted to it during the middle of the halftime and responded very well. Pulisic, Pedro, Giroud were very active, but couldn’t score. Pedro even hit the crossbar in the 22nd minute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuzkybF52T0

Giroud was the scorer for Chelsea in the 36th minute, after a nice action of the entire team. That was the result at the halftime, but it seems that Klopp shook the things a little bit during the break, and Liverpool’s reaction was immediate. Roberto Firminho, who came in minutes before, assisted Sadio Mane for leveling the score.

Until the end, we’ve seen several excellent chances on both sides, but the result stayed the same. As time went by, Chelsea was better, and we might say that their loss was unfair a little bit.

Five minutes into the extra time Mane struck again, and the majority of people at Vodafone Arena believed that it would be the final score. But five minutes after his score, Adrian brought down Tammy Abraham in the box, and the referee Stephanie Frappart pointed towards the penalty spot.

Jorginho took the responsibility and calmly deceived L’Pool’s goalkeeper. That was the final score, and the penalties had to decide. One by one Firmino, Fabinho, Origu, Trent-Arnold, and Salah netted. Meanwhile, on Chelsea’s side, Jorginho, Barkley, Mount, and Emerson beat Adrian. Still, Abraham didn’t, and that was a decisive moment.

Frank Lampard was proud of his boys, and he stated that at the press conference. And to be honest he had lots of reasons for that. They outplayed the European champions, fought bravely and lacked a little bit of luck to snatch this win.

“I’ve got nothing but pride in the team and the performance, and confidence in what that means.”

On the other side, Jurgen Klopp was satisfied, but stated that the game took a lot of energy from his players. It is something which the German coach didn’t plan probably but eventually happened.

“It was a very difficult game for both teams. It was all about winning it and we did that in the end,” said Klopp. “Nobody in the stadium wanted extra time, it was a killer. I’m not sure about the penalty but who cares now.”

This is the fourth UEFA Super Cup trophy for the Reds, while Chelsea still didn’t win any of the,

Both teams will be heading back for England as soon as possible, as they have more obligations in the domestic competitions. Liverpool has to meet with Southampton on the road, which might be a tough game for them.

Chelsea hosts Leicester City, who is always unpredictable. The game is scheduled for this Sunday, and the above-mentioned one is on Saturday.