Cesar Azpilicueta played a captain’s role by taking the pressure off Kai Havertz and fooling Palmeiras into thinking he was about to take the penalty in the Club World Cup final.
Romelu Lukaku had given them the lead with a bullet header 10 minutes into the second period, but that advantage was wiped out after Cavalcante Veiga drew his side level from the spot after Thiago Silva’s handball offence.
The game went to extra-time and seemed destined to be decided by a shootout, before the Blues were handed a contentious penalty three minutes from full-time for another debatable handball.
After referee Christopher Beath reversed his decision having consulted the pitch side monitor, Azpilicueta picked the ball and placed it on the spot.
The Spain international was surrounded by opposition players who attempted to put him off his stride, while the taker, Havertz, was ignored and given space to compose himself.
When he eventually stepped forward he kept his composure and sent the opposition goalkeeper the wrong way to clinch the win and help Chelsea become only the fifth team in history to win every major available club prize.
Asked why he grabbed hold of the ball, Azpilicueta said: ‘I knew what they were like.’
Havertz, who also scored the winner in last season’s Champions League final against Man City, conceded he felt nervous ahead of such a key moment but was delighted to have etched his name further into the club’s folklore.
He said: ‘It’s amazing. After champions of Europe, we are now champions of the world. It sounds better.
‘I was nervous [taking the penalty], I have to be honest. It’s a big penalty. It’s just crazy. It was good I kept the nerves. I am very happy.
‘I was the third penalty taker but I was the only one left on the pitch.
‘My team-mates gave me trust. I dreamed always as a kid of this. This is an amazing feeling for me.’
