Kepa sends Incredible ‘three word’ message to Chelsea fans after Penalty hero against Plymouth
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the Hero, Chelsea beats Plymouth 2-1 in the Fa Cup as the Blues progressed to the next round.
However, The Blues were forced to extra-time against the League One opposition and were on course for a penalty shootout until Marcos Alonso found a breakthrough.
The wing-back’s goal wasn’t the end of the drama though, as the away side won a penalty in the second-half of extra-time.
Kepa’s penalty record was fantastic before the match, and he stood up and saved yet another one to help the home team see out the win.
It didn’t look as though it was all going to be the European champions’ day early on in the game. Argyle’s Macaulay Gillesphey got his header on target early in the game to give the lower league side the lead.
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta then replied in the first half, finishing at the near-post with a clever flick from a cross. Thomas Tuchel’s men were then forced to extra-time, where they eventually found a second goal after a neat piece of play was finished off by Marcos Alonso, who slammed home from Kai Havertz’s cross.
The drama was far from over, when Malang Sarr brought down a Plymouth forward in the box after a mistake. A penalty was given, but Kepa continued his streak of saves from the spot with a great dive to his left to deny an equaliser.
After the game, the shot-stopper said on Twitter: “I got you.”
It continues the Spaniard’s great form in penalty saving, something he proved in the European Super Cup, when he came on to make some crucial saves in a shootout.
It was also something that Tuchel has previously been full of praise for, continuing that run of form in the net.
It could be another important moment for the goalkeeper in his Chelsea career, stepping up well in the absence of Edouard Mendy.