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Football | Kepa the shootout hero as Chelsea win Super Cup

Chelsea have beaten Villareal 6-5 on penalties to win the Super Cup in Belfast.

Kepa Arrizabalaga came off the bench late in extra time before saving two penalties in the shootout, including a decisive stop to deny Raul Albiol to secure the Blues' first Super cup since 1998.

The match went to extra time after an entertaining 1-1 draw at Windsor Park.

Hakim Ziyech had given Chelsea the lead in the 27th minute,

Marcos Alonso found Kai Havertz down Chelsea's left with an excellent through ball, and Havertz' low cross found Ziyech in the box, with the winger slotting a right-footed finish into the net.

Villareal had plenty of chances to equalise, with Alberto Moreno crashing a volley on to the underside of the crossbar, and Gerard Moreno hitting the post after a poor kickout from Edouard Mendy.

The La Liga side eventually drew level in the 73rd minute through Gerard Moreno, who slotted a clinical finish into the far top corner from 15 yards after a clever one-two with Boulaye Dia.

Neither side could be separated in extra time, sending the tie to penalties.

Havertz, Chelsea's hero in last season's Champions League final, saw the Blues' first penalty saved by Sergio Asenjo.

Gerard Moreno made no mistake with his penalty, but Kepa kept Chelsea in contention by saving Aissa Mandi's spot kick.

Cesar Azpilicueta, Alonso, Mason Mount and Jorginho found the net for Thomas Tuchel's side, while Pervis Estupinan, Moi Gomez, Daniel Raba and Juan Foyth converted for Unai Emery's Villareal.

Antonio Rudiger calmly dispatched his penalty in sudden death, before substitute Kepa guessed the right way and saved Albiol's tame penalty to seal Chelsea's second Super Cup.

"It was not spontaneous," Tuchel told BT Sport about the decision to bring on Kepa for Mendy late in extra time.

"We talked about it with the goalkeepers when we came and had the first cup game against Barnsley. So we had some statistics, we were well prepared, that Kepa is the best in percentage in saving penalties."

Chelsea will now turn their attention to Saturday's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

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