2018 ICC: Iwobi Strikes As Arsenal Beat Chelsea In Dublin
Alex Iwobi scored a sudden death penalty to hand Arsenal a 6-5 penalty win over Chelsea after full time scores ended 1-1 in Wednesday’s International Champions Cup clash played at the Aviva stadium in Dublin.
Antonio Rudiger scored the opener for the Blues in the sixth minute but a late goal from Alexander Lacazatte in the additional time of second half sent the game into penalty shootout.
Maurizio Sarri made three changes to the Chelsea side that started the games against Inter Milan handing Cesar Azpilicueta, Rudiger and Willy Caballero their first pre-season start.
Rudiger justified the fate of his manager powering in fantastic header from ten yards to hand the Blues an early lead.
Alvaro Morata who is yet to get off the mark in pre-season for the Blues missed a chance to score from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Callum Hudson Odoi was fouled by Hector Bellerin in the box.
The Spaniard fired his shot low to the right corner but Petr Cech was quick to get down to save the spot kick in the 16th minute.
Odoi, Morata and Pedro Rodriguez also came close but were denied by Cech.
In the second half, Sarri made four changes in the 63rd minute bringing on Davide Zappacosta, Emerson Palmeiri Victor Moses and Tammy Abraham for Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Pedro and Morata.
Unai Emery also brought on Alex Iwobi for Emile Smith Rowe in the 63rd minute.
In the 84th minute, Marcin Bulka denied Iwobi chance to restore parity making a great save to deny the Nigerian a goal bound effort.
In additional time, Bulka could stop Lacazatte’s rebound shot from close range.
In the shootouts, Danny Drinkwater, Abraham,Moses, Emerson and Lucas Piazon all scored their spot kicks for Chelsea while Arsenal’s Lacazette, Reiss Nelson, Matteo Guendouzi, Maitland Niles, Mesut Ozil made no mistake from 12 yards.
In sudden death,Ruben Loftus Cheek missed his kick for Chelsea while Iwobi made no mistake as he scored to hand the Gunners another win in pre-season.
