(CNN) — Liverpool held its Guts to win the European Super Cup after Beating Chelsea on Fines in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Following an enthralling contest that finished at 2-2 after extra time, it was Liverpool that prevailed 5-4 on spot kicks, using goalkeeper Adri??n stopping a shot out of Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham to ignite celebrations from people in red.
It was an especially sweet moment.
Even the 32-year-old goalkeeper, that had been introduced by West Ham at the end of last year, came at Anfield only last week after registering to replace the leaving Simon Mignolet.
Few thought he would be called into activity throughout his time in the club, until No. 1 Alisson Becker was hurt in the opening day triumph over Norwich on Friday.
It supposed Adri??n, who had not played a single minute of first-team football since emerging in an FA Cup tie from third-tier Wimbledon in January, was thrust into action in Istanbul.
“What a story — Adrian! Just like Rocky later he dropped to Apollo Creed,” Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said to BT Sport after the match. “He kept together his nerves. He is loud in the room already.
“I don’t think he has won a good deal in his lifetime, so it is very good for him to acquire it. He made some incredible saves, both keepers failed, so I’m really happy for him.”
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This specific European Super Cup final, the yearly contest between the winner of the European Champions League and the Europa League victor, created background before a ball had even been kicked.
The first final involving two British clubs, it also provided the platform for Stephanie Frappart to become the first female referee to take control of a major men’s European contest.
Frappart, that led a month’s Women’s World Cup final, has been joined by assistant referees Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neill at officiating a fun contest where both teams could have won before it transferred to penalties.
Liverpool, the past year’s Champions League champions, shot at halftime since Chelsea deservedly took the lead through Olivier Giroud.
However, Klopp’s side rose after the period, with Sadio Mane leveling out of close selection.
And yet an extraordinary bit of goalkeeping prevented Liverpool from accepting the lead with 14 minutes remaining as Kepa Arrizabalaga produced an astounding double save to deny Mohamed Salah and then Virgil van Dijk.
With neither team able to discover a winner inside 90 seconds, the contest moved into extra time, where Liverpool struck first.
Once more, it was Mane who produced the breakthrough, now shooting home a remarkable attempt with his right foot after awesome play by Roberto Firmino.
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But Chelsea, winners of the previous year’s Europa League, refused to buckle and also drew level when Jorginho fired home from the penalty spot after Adri??n was thought to have fouled Abraham within the region.
The game went to penalties, as well as Liverpool having scored all five, Abraham awakened needing to score — only for his kick to strike Adri??n’s legs and make sure heartbreak to Chelsea.
“I’ve got nothing but pride at the group along with also the functionality and optimism in what that means,” Chelsea coach Frank Lampard informed BT Sport. “This was a tough game against a good Liverpool team that had additional time to recuperate after the weekend. But occasionally soccer comes down to small minutes of luck.
“Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham included an additional dimension when they arrived on and were unfortunate not to score. Tammy should keep up his head, because that’s part and parcel of becoming a leading player.”
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