REVEALED: The ingenious trick that won Chelsea the Club World Cup – how Cezar Azpilicueta’s mind games fooled Palmeiras and allowed Kai Havertz to stay cool before slotting home the decisive extra-time penalty
- Chelsea edged past Palmeiras with a 2-1 victory in the Club World Cup final
- Kai Havertz slotted home a penalty in the 117th minute to seal the victory
- Cezar Azpilicueta played mind games with the Brazilian side before the penalty
Chelsea captain Cezar Azpilicueta’s mind games played a huge part in the Blues winning the Club World Cup as he fooled Palmeiras by pretending to step up to take a penalty in the dying stages in their 2-1 victory in the final.
The ball fell for Azpilicueta and his shot on the volley fairly cannoned off the hand of Luan, which was somewhat carelessly hanging mid air.
Play went on as Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger swarmed around referee Chris Heath.
Chelsea captain Cezar Azpilicueta played mind games with Palmeiras ahead of Kai Havertz penalty
German forward Havertz was able to then cooly slot home his penalty in the 117th minute
When the ball finally went out of play, Heath was called to the VAR monitor and a penalty was awarded.
Havertz stepped up and despite a concerted intimidation campaign by the Palmeiras, with Rudiger acting as chief protector, he kept his cool and shot home in the 117th minute.
The unfortunate Luan’s evening would then come to an end with virtually the final kick of the game, when he was sent off for a professional foul on Havertz.
VAR awarded the Blues a penalty after Azpilicueta (centre) cannoned a shot of Luan’s hand
Football psychologist Geir Jordet explains why Chelsea’s penalty…
Source : dailymail
