Chelsea lose out to Bayern on penalties

Bayern Munich 2 Chelsea 2
After extra time – Bayern won 5-4 on penalties

Bayern Munich won the Uefa Super Cup after equalising in the final seconds of extra time and then beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out.

All nine spot-kicks had been converted before Romelu Lukaku’s weak effort was easily saved by Manuel Neuer.

It meant a cruel defeat for 10-man Chelsea in Prague – and that Bayern enjoyed a measure of revenge for their Champions League final defeat against the Blues last year.

Chelsea went ahead through Fernando Torres’ early goal but were pegged back by Franck Ribery’s vicious shot and later had Ramires sent off.

Eden Hazard’s glorious extra-time strike seemed to have secured a second Super Cup win for them and a first trophy for Jose Mourinho in his second spell as manager.

But Javi Martinez levelled in the dying seconds for the Bundesliga side, who then prevailed by scoring with all their penalties.

Chelsea scored a breathtaking opener when Hazard showed wonderful touch, pace and then vision to pick out Andre Schurrle and the German’s classy pull-back was crashed into the top corner by Torres.

But Bayern dominated possession and presented a more sustained threat, despite finding themselves trailing after just eight minutes.

Moments later, Philipp Lahm’s equally well struck shot went straight at keeper Petr Cech, who saved easily.

And a poor first touch stopped Thomas Muller having a simple one-on-one chance, while Ribery’s low shot was brilliantly turned away for a corner by Cech.

But Cech was unable to prevent Bayern’s second-half equaliser, which came when Ribery cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot.

The goal, just two minutes after the break, was the start of a period of Bayern dominance.

Arjen Robben shot over from 15 yards following a cleverly worked free-kick and the former Chelsea winger also volleyed wide.

But despite being on the back foot, Chelsea were also creating openings.

Two Frank Lampard set-pieces nearly brought a winner; Branislav Ivanovic’s instinctive header coming back off the bar and Neuer’s superb reaction save keeping out David Luiz’s point-blank header.

But with less than five minutes remaining Ramires was sent off for a second yellow card, the midfielder winning the ball but then catching Mario Gotze with his follow through.

Schurrle was immediately sacrificed for the more defensively-minded John Obi Mikel.

Ribery could have won the game in normal time but dragged his shot wide, and within three minutes of the restart Hazard put Chelsea back in front.

Luiz committed a couple of defenders by bringing the ball out of defence and found Hazard on the right, and the Belgian breezed past two men and slammed a cracking low shot past Neuer.

Cech made some stunning saves in the closing stages to preserve the lead, notably to keep out two Mario Madzukic headers and making a fine stop to deny Ribery.

But Chelsea’s impressive defence was finally breached by the relentless pressure in added time.

And after Luiz, Oscar and Lampard all netted in the following shoot-out, Ashley Cole just about scored with Chelsea’s fourth kick when his penalty hit the inside of the post and crossed the line.

But Chelsea’s luck ran out when Lukaku was unable to convert their next penalty.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cole, Cahill, Luiz; Lampard, Ramires; Oscar, Schurrle (Mikel 87), Hazard (Terry 113); Torres (Lukaku 97).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Essien, Mata.

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