Skip to main content

Chelsea 2 Barcelona 2 (4-2 on penalties): Courtois stars for Premier League champions

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced another brilliant display as Chelsea defeated European champions Barcelona 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 at the end of regulation in Washington DC on Tuesday.

Courtois was the hero in Chelsea's International Champions Cup shoot-out win over Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, and he was at it again three days later, after team-mate Gary Cahill's 86th-minute header forced penalties at FedEx Field.

The Belgium international saved Gerard Pique's penalty, after Alen Halilovic chipped his effort into the crossbar as Chelsea emerged flawless from spot-kicks.

It was the Belgium show in the first half as a moment of sheer class from Eden Hazard and Courtois' goalkeeping heroics had Chelsea a goal to the good at the break.

Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Jeremy Mathieu were included in Barcelona's starting XI, while Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Pedro were among the substitutes.

Mourinho's men got the goal they deserved seven minutes later thanks to Hazard, who skipped past four Barca players before he coolly slotted the ball underneath Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The match ebbed and flowed as Barca slowly found their rhythm, but only the woodwork prevented Chelsea from making it 2-0 as Barca's back four struggled to contain the likes of Hazard and Costa.

Oscar's free-kick struck the crossbar in the 26th minute, with Ter Stegen rooted to his line.

Suarez - lively throughout the first half - thought he had equalised in the 31st minute but the Uruguay international was denied again by Courtois, who dived down quickly to his right.

Suarez engineered an opening for Rakitic to restore parity before the interval, however the Croatian midfielder skied his shot over the bar from just outside the six-yard box.

However, Suarez got the goal he deserved six minutes into the second half, scooping the ball over Courtois, despite Zouma's best efforts on the line.

With time running out in Landover, Cahill courageously bundled his way to the ball and headed over substitute keeper Jordi Matip in the 86th minute - the Englishman left bloodied for his efforts.