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Atletico thrash Chelsea in Super Cup

updated 6:15 PM EDT, Fri August 31, 2012
Atletico striker Falcao reminds the crowd in Monaco how many goals he scored in the first half
Atletico striker Falcao reminds the crowd in Monaco how many goals he scored in the first half
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Colombian striker steals the show with a first-half hat-trick in European Super Cup
  • Champion's League winners, Chelsea outclassed by Spanish Europa League winners
  • Chelsea boss, Roberto di Matteo says his team will "bounce back"

(CNN) -- Radamel Falcao scored a first-half hat-trick as Atletico Madrid thrashed Chelsea 4-1 in the European Super Cup in Monaco on Friday.

Falcao opened his account in the sixth minute with a clever chip over goalkeeper Petr Cech before guiding a left-foot shot into the top-left corner to make it 2-0 with just 19 minutes on the clock.

The Colombian striker scored his third in the dying moments of the first half smashing the ball past a helpless Cech to finish off a counter-attack to all but end the English club's interest in the tie.

Footless footballer to meet Messi

Any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out 15 minutes after the restart when Miranda expertly put away a fourth.

Champion's League winners, Chelsea were second best all night against Europa League victors Atletico, but they did manage a consolation goal 16 minutes before the final whistle when defender Gary Cahill fired home.

"We've got a lot to learn, we've got to get a lot better. It's a shame we were not able to be as competitive in a European final," Chelsea coach, Roberto di Matteo said.

"It was a bad defeat, but we'll bounce back," he added.

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