PSG wins UEFA Super Cup after epic penalty drama against Tottenham
PSG won the UEFA Super Cup (photo: x.com/PSG_inside)
In the Italian city of Udine, France’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and England’s Tottenham Hotspur decided the winner of the UEFA Super Cup. Regulation time ended without a victor, but in the penalty shootout, the Parisians came out on top, RBC-Ukraine reports.
UEFA Super Cup
August 13
PSG – Tottenham 2:2 (4:3 on penalties)
Goals: Lee (85), Ramos (90+4) - Van de Ven (39), Romero (48)
PSG - Tottenham match details
The game began with an even battle. In the 8th minute, PSG created the first dangerous chance - Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot just past the near post after an attack from the left flank.
The Londoners responded with counterattacks, and in the 38th minute, Micky Van de Ven opened the scoring with a tap-in into an empty net.
Before halftime, PSG tried to create chances, but the post saved Tottenham after a strike by Mohammed Kudus. Thus, the first half ended with a minimal lead for the London side.
After the break, Tottenham doubled their advantage. In the 48th minute, Cristian Romero headed in Pedro Porro’s cross under goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, making it 0:2 in favor of the Londoners.
Both teams made several substitutions. For PSG, Lee Kang-in, Ibrahima Mbaye, and Fabián Ruiz came on; for Tottenham - Dominic Solanke and Archie Gray.
The tension rose after the 79th minute, when Mathys Tel entered the field and Lee Kang-in began threatening the opponent’s goal.
In the 85th minute, the South Korean player reduced the deficit: Vitinha laid the ball off to the left just outside the box, and the Korean struck from distance into the right bottom corner - the first goal of the match for PSG.
Six minutes were added to the second half, so the battle intensified toward the end.
In the 90+4th minute, Hakimi sent the ball to the right flank of the box to Ousmane Dembélé, who crossed to Gonçalo Ramos’s head, and he sent another ball into the Londoners’ net.
Thus, regulation time ended 2:2, sending the match into a penalty shootout.
Penalty shootout
The penalty series was tense and dramatic. Solanke scored first, putting the Spurs ahead, while Vitinha hit the post.
Rodrigo Bentancur doubled Tottenham’s lead, 2:0, but the French side did not give up; Ramos and Dembélé scored their kicks, and Chevalier saved Van de Ven’s attempt.
The decisive moment came when Kang-in’s shot put PSG ahead in the series, 3:2.
Mathys Tel failed to convert for Tottenham, but Nuno Mendes scored the decisive spot kick, and the Parisians won the UEFA Super Cup for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2000.
Match background
Earlier, PSG won the UEFA Champions League for the first time in history, beating Inter Milan 5:0 in the final.
Tottenham, for their part, defeated Manchester United (1:0) in the UEFA Europa League final, claiming their first trophy in 17 years.
Both teams entered the match with squad losses: PSG was without Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Tottenham was missing Drăgușin, Kulusevski, Maddison, and Solomon.
Last season’s UEFA Super Cup holder was Real Madrid.
Read also about the financial details of the transfer and the debut date of Ukrainian defender Zabarnyi at PSG.
