After an epic encounter in Prague, it was Bayern Munich who emerged victorious over a valliant Chelsea side.
European Champions League winners Munich defeated the Europa League winners Chelsea 5-4 on penalties, following a pulsating 2-2 draw.
Munich had much of the early possession but it was the Blues who struck first. Eden Hazard made a run through the middle of the pitch before playing the ball to Andre Schurrle on the right wing. The German took the ball in his stride before squaring the ball to Fernando Torres, who effortlessly swept the ball into Bayern's goal. It was a strike that has been all too rare for the Spaniard since his 50 million pound move from Liverpool in January 2011.
The German champions continued to dominate possession with French winger Franck Ribery having an increasing influence. However, Chelsea limited them to long range efforts and the Europa League winners went into the half-time interval with their one goal lead in tact.
Its likely Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would have told his players at half-time they needed to keep it tight in the opening minutes of the second half. For whatever reason, it doesn't seem like his players were listening.
In the 47th minute, European footballer of the year Ribery made a burst inside from Bayern's left before launching a drive into the bottom left corner to equalise. It was an effort Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech will feel he might have done better with having got a hand to the ball.
From that point, the game followed the same pattern it had all night with Munich dominating possession but with Chelsea having perhaps the best chances. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was called into action to make good saves from Oscar and David Luiz. Branislav Ivanovic, whose header won the Europa League final in May, rattled the Munich bar with a header.
It was the 81st minute when perhaps the key moment of the game occurred when Chelsea midfielder Ramires went in for a tackle with Mario Gotze. Replays showed Ramires did make contact with the ball but his momentum took him into the German midfielder. Referee Jonas Erikkson deemed the tackle was enough to warrant the Brazilian his second yellow card of the night, having been booked earlier in the game for a foul on Ribery.
Despite this disadvantage, Chelsea were able to hold on and force the game into extra time.
At this point, Bayern were the clear favourites to go on to win the match but it was Chelsea who took the lead for the second time of the evening. Eden Hazard took the ball on the left, cut into the box and unleashed a shot into the bottom corner. Much like with Ribery's goal earlier, it was a strike that Neuer should really have done a lot better with.
Chelsea then went into all-out defensive mode, limiting their opponents to long range efforts much as they had done all game. It was only late in the second half of extra time that Bayern started to make any headway into the Chelsea penalty area when Petr Cech made outstanding saves from Gotze and Mario Mandzukic.
As the clock ticked away, it appeared Chelsea's heroic defending had been just enough to secure the clubs second European Super Cup victory. Fate however, was to take a cruel twist.
Munich received a free-kick on the left hand side with just seconds left on the clock. The ball was crossed into the area and following a goal mouth scramble it fell at the feet of Javi Martinez and there was nothing Cech could do this time.
So, just as it had been 15 months earlier, these two clubs would need to be separated by a penalty shoot-out.
The first nine penalties all went to plan and so it was that with Bayern leading 5-4, 20 year old striker Romelu Lukaku stepped up to take Chelsea's fifth penalty. His effort was low to the keepers left but was easily saved by Manuel Neuer to win his side, not to mention new manager Pep Guardiola, the first European trophy of the season.
Chelsea may well have lost the game but they can take pride in their performance. Chelsea showed gallant, resolute defending and were dangerous on the counter-attack. They pushed the champions of Europe Bayern Munich, who had so easily disposed of Barcelona in last season's Champions League, all the way. They showed they could go toe-to-toe with Europe's best. All this and they still have talents of new signings Willian and Samuel Eto'o waiting in the wings.
This may have been Bayern Munich's night but Chelsea showed their fans there is lots to look forward to.
