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Liverpool win UEFA Super Cup

Writer's picture: Andrew ZarbAndrew Zarb

Adrian turned from villain to hero in the UEFA Super Cup, as after giving away a penalty in extra-time, he saved a penalty from Chelsea's Tammy Abraham to win the penalty shoot-out for Liverpool.

Liverpool, last season's UEFA Champions League winners, have won the UEFA Super Cup after beating Chelsea, last season's UEFA Europa League winners 5-4 on penalties after the match finished 2-2 after extra time. It was a match which made history as it was the first time ever that a female referee took charge of a major men's European football match, with Stephanie Frappart from France being selected as the match official. In a first half which was rather tight and tense, it was Chelsea who were the superior team, as Liverpool's midfield struggled to cope with them - particularly Pedro and N'golo Kanté, as well as Christian Pulisic, who were very influential for the West London side. Although it was a half relatively limited in terms of real goalmouth action, Pedro came the closest to scoring when in the 22nd minute he hit the post after shooting from a tight angle. Liverpool were a threat, however, from set pieces and Virgil van Dijk did miss a decent opening to score after Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga came out unconvincingly though it was sufficient to put the Dutchman off. The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute, when after a lovely through ball from Pulisic, Giroud coolly finished the shot into the far corner. Chelsea did put the ball in the net again 3 minutes later via Pulisic, however, the goal was correctly disallowed for offside. Jurgen Klopp decided to make an early second half substitution, replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the change had the desired effect almost immediately - as Sadio Mané equalised in the 48th minute after Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa hesitated and the Senegalese took full advantage on the second attempt. It was a half which did not contain too many key chances, however, in the 74th minute from a corner Virgil van Dijk shot and it required Kepa to produce a magnificent save onto the bar. Chelsea had the ball in the net once again in the second half, however, Mason Mount's brilliant finish was disallowed for offside yet again, and ultimately the match finished level after 90 minutes which meant it went into extra-time.

The extra-time kicked off and within the opening 5 minutes of extra-time, Liverpool went in front for the first time in the match, thanks to Sadio Mané's second goal of the game. However, their lead did not last too long, as goalkeeper Adrian needlessly brought down Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, on as a substitute, in the penalty area and Chelsea were given a penalty which Jorginho nervelessly converted in the 101st minute. Then not long after, Pedro pulled back a cross which Tammy Abraham should have scored, however just missed and the score remained 2-2 till the end of the first half in extra-time. The second half of extra-time produced very little key action, however, with the only real moment of note being a good save by Adrian from a Mason Mount shot, and the match remained tied at 2-2 after extra time, leading to a penalty shoot-out. The penalty shoot-out began with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino taking first, and scoring - whilst Chelsea's Jorginho kept his head from the spot once again to level it up. All Liverpool and Chelsea players converted their penalties, before Tammy Abraham saw Chelsea's last penalty (from the five each) saved by Adrian's legs after he tried to place the penalty down the middle.

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