Saturday, 31 August 2013

Bayern Munich defeated Chelsea on penalties to clinch the UEFA super cup trophy

The Premier League outfit took the lead early inthe first half when Fernando Torres brilliantly finished off a flowing move, but they were pegged back shortly after the break by a long-distance Franck Ribery strike.
Prior to the game going to extra time, Jose Mourinho's men lost Ramires to a second bookable offence, but they were back in front when Eden Hazard's effort deceived Manuel Neuer to restore their advantage.  However, a tap-in from substitute Javi Martinezat the death sent the game to penalties, where Neuer's save from Romelu Lukaku's weak effort handed Bayern the trophy.
With doubts over the fitness of Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern boss Guardiola elected to start right-back Philipp Lahm in a holding midfield position.
Mourinho, meanwhile, handed Torres a return to action after the striker had been benched for Monday's 0-0 Premier League draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
And it did not take long for the Spaniard to reward his manager's faith, as he got on the scoresheet with just eight minutes on the clock.
Hazard was the catalyst, with the Belgian taking out two opponents with a jinking run before playing out wide to Andre Schurrle, who pulled back for Torres to smash the ball home.
Ribery almost provided a reply courtesy of a brilliant exchange with Mario Mandzukic at the edge of the Chelsea box, but he could not have expected Cech to somehow keep out his low curling effort with fantastic dive down to his left.
And he fired over from a similar position 10 minutes before the half-time whistle as Bayern were frustrated in their efforts to restore parity.
However, it did not take long for the newly named UEFA Best Player in Europe's quality to shine through in the second period.
 MATCH VIEW
This might not have been as big as the Champions League final, but it certainly felt like it. Bayern and Chelsea fought an epic two-hour battle of tactics, skill and sheer will, but in the end it is Pep Guardiola who emerges victorious over Jose Mourinho again.
As soon as Javi Martinez - a game-changer on his introduction - sent the match to penalties, someone had to become the villain. In the end it was Romelu Lukaku, whose casual swing of the boot evoked memories of Didier Drogba's winning spot-kick in Munich a year ago.
Manuel Neuer saw it coming and changed the story. There are many in a Blue shirt who don't deserve to be on the losing side - Eden Hazard, David Luiz and Petr Cech, to name just three - but such is football. The result might make Chelsea stronger. It will make Bayern feel invincible.

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