Paris Saint-Germain won the European Super Cup on penalties after beating Europa League holders Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The English side were less dominant in the match, but they nevertheless made the most of their chances against a Parisian side that had been sleepy for much of the final. However, the French side staged an incredible comeback in the final minutes to win their first ever European Super Cup on penalties.
Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur both advanced to the European Super Cup final on Wednesday night with the chance to win the prestigious trophy for the first time.
The thirteen-time French champion team already played for the trophy as the European Cup Winners’ Cup winner (KEK) in 1996, but lost twice (1–6, 1–3) to the Italian Juventus in the then home-and-away system. Now, thanks to their first-ever Champions League success in May, head coach Luis Enrique’s team will be interested, and on Monday, to the great surprise of many, they left Gianluigi Donnarumma out of the squad. The 74-time Italian national team goalkeeper is expected to leave the Parisians, where the Frenchman Lucas Chevalier, who was signed for 55 million euros, will certainly be the first-choice goalkeeper.
The other participant in Wednesday night’s match, Tottenham, has never played in the European Super Cup. The two-time English champions won the Europa League against Manchester United in May, which they won for the third time overall with their predecessor, the two-time UEFA Cup winner (1972, 1984).
After a slow start, the English took the lead
The match started quite quietly, perhaps neither team had arrived at the new season with their heads held high, but the first notable opportunity was finally created by PSG. Hvicsa Kvarachelia received a pass inside the English five in the 8th minute, but the Georgian striker dug the ball wide of the goal from a turn.
The next more lively action had to wait until the 23rd minute, when Spurs players flashed in front. Mohammed Kudus, who had signed from West Ham United in the summer, played a game with Richarlison, but the Brazilian’s shot was saved by Chevalier. Despite the situation, the match reflected the pace of a friendly match, with a slight exaggeration, although the Parisians could not be criticized in that they had almost 70 percent of the ball in parallel with what was expected, although Tottenham had many more shots on goal (5-1).
Dominance or not, the Londoners made the move sooner at the end of the first half. Goalkeeper Vicario’s free kick from the left was headed into the middle by Cristian Romero – who was appointed team captain after the departure of Son Heung-min – after which Joao Palhinha shot at goal from close range, but the opponent’s goalkeeper pushed the attempt over the crossbar with a beautiful move.
BUT THIS WASN’T ENOUGH, AS THEN MICKY VAN DE VEN, WHO WAS NEARBY, MADE A FAILURE TO WRITE THE BALL INTO AN ALMOST EMPTY NET, GIVING THE LONDONERS THE LEAD (0–1).
Although Kudus allowed Spurs to reach the post again, referee Joao Pinheiro waved the ball away, allowing the two teams to go into the break with a one-goal lead.
Another Spurs goal came soon, but the real drama came at the end
After the turn, another cold shower hit Luís Enrique’s team. In the 48th minute, after Pedro Porro’s long-range free kick, Romero was left free, and Chevalier could not save the Argentine’s header, which made the Whites two up (0–2)!
Despite all this, the French still had 70 percent of the ball, but they simply could not keep up with Thomas Frank’s team in attack. After an hour of play, PSG had four shots on goal, while their opponent had 13. Tellingly…
Approaching the 71st minute, it seemed that the Blues were also starting to pull themselves together. First, Vicario had to block a shot from Desiré Doué, the hero of the Champions League final in May, but the rebound landed in front of Fábian Ruiz, but the Spaniard’s attempt was also blocked. Finally, Bradley Barcola, who was nearby, closed the situation and shot the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal, but the referee immediately signaled that Ruiz had already been offside, so the goal was invalid. In addition, Barcola was injured in the process, so the French international winger had to be replaced.
Paris Saint-German’s pressure did not let up in the last quarter of an hour, but the attacks of the Champions League winners simply did not have the edge, despite the fact that Enrique did not have to do without any of his stars up front.
THEN THE ICE JUST BROKE. AFTER VITINHA’S PASS, SUBSTITUTE LI KANG IN SHOT INTO THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE GOAL, GIVING ADVA TEAM ANOTHER CHANCE IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES (1–2). THEN IN THE 93RD MINUTE, OUSMANÉ DEMBELÉ’S PASS WAS HEADED INTO GOAL BY GONCALO RAMOS TO EQUALIZE (2–2). THE FRENCH TEAM SHOWED AN AMAZING RESURRECTION!
There were no more goals in the remaining time, so it was time for penalties, where after Dominic Solanke’s penalty was converted, Vitinha was the first springboard for the French to make a mistake. In the next round, everyone made the obligatory one, but Van de Ven, who had headed the goal, had already made a mistake, while Dembélé rolled in his own opportunity, making the penalty shootout 2–2. However, Spurs substitute Mathys Tel also made a mistake, and the French did not let the victory slip away from them. Nuno Mendes scored the decisive penalty,
THUS PSG WON THE EUROPEAN SUPER CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY.
UEFA European Super Cup, final
Paris Saint-German – Tottenham 2–2 – 4–3 on penalties (Li Kang In 85., G. Ramos 94., ill., Van de Ven 39., Romero 48.)