Paris Saint-Germain secured their first UEFA Super Cup title, triumphing over Tottenham 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Tottenham, managed by Thomas Frank, initially led with goals from Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. However, late goals from PSG’s Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos forced the shootout. Despite an early penalty miss from Vitinha, Nuno Mendes clinched the victory for PSG.
In a heart-stopping encounter at the Stadio Bluenergy in Udine, Italy, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their first-ever UEFA Super Cup title, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties after a remarkable comeback that ended in a 2-2 draw. The match, filled with drama and twists, saw PSG snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, leaving Tottenham to rue missed opportunities.
Tottenham, under the guidance of Thomas Frank in his first competitive game as manager, appeared to be cruising to victory thanks to goals from Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. However, late strikes from PSG substitutes Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos, with Ramos scoring deep into stoppage time, forced the game into a penalty shootout. The shootout itself was a rollercoaster, with Vitinha missing PSG's first penalty and Lucas Chevalier saving Van de Ven's attempt. Ultimately, it was Nuno Mendes who stepped up to score the decisive penalty, clinching the Super Cup for PSG.
The match began with Tottenham on the offensive, with Pedro Porro sending an early effort over the crossbar and Richarlison forcing a save from Chevalier. Tottenham's breakthrough came in the 39th minute when a long free-kick caused chaos in the PSG defense. Marquinhos' clearance deflected to Joao Palhinha, whose shot was saved by Chevalier, but Van de Ven was on hand to score the rebound.
Tottenham nearly doubled their lead before halftime when Mohammed Kudus headed against the post, but he was ruled offside. However, they did extend their advantage early in the second half as Romero fired a shot past Chevalier, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it.
PSG thought they had pulled a goal back in the 66th minute when Guglielmo Vicario saved Desire Doue's shot, and Bradley Barcola scored the rebound after Fabian Ruiz's effort was blocked. However, the linesman raised his flag for offside against Ruiz, denying PSG a goal.
PSG refused to give up and finally found a way through Tottenham's defense when Vitinha set up Lee Kang-in, who drove a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. With time running out, PSG launched a final attack, and Ramos met Ousmane Dembele's cross with a powerful header to force penalties.
Despite Vitinha's miss in the shootout, PSG kept their nerve, with Chevalier's save on Van de Ven proving crucial. With the score at 3-3, Mathys Tel missed his penalty, giving Mendes the chance to win it for PSG, and he duly obliged, sending his shot into the roof of the net.
PSG's victory was particularly sweet, considering their lack of pre-season preparation. They had not played since losing the Club World Cup final to Chelsea in mid-July, but they showed great character to overcome a two-goal deficit late in the game. This was the first time since May 2005 that PSG had recovered from such a deficit, when they drew 2-2 with Sochaux.
Tottenham, meanwhile, were left to rue their missed opportunity to add another trophy to their cabinet. Having ended their 17-year trophy drought with a Europa League triumph in May, they were on the verge of another piece of silverware. However, they could not withstand PSG's late onslaught and ultimately fell short in the penalty shootout.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank became the first manager to take charge of an English club for the first time in the UEFA Super Cup. However, Spurs are now the second English team after Arsenal who were unable to win their very first match ever in the competition. Spurs were without a ball for extended times, ending with only 26% possession of the ball. They had five shots on target overall and a worth 1.38 xG, all higher than PSG. However, it was not enough to secure victory
Despite the defeat, Tottenham can take heart from their performance, which showed that they are a team capable of competing with the best in Europe. However, they will need to learn from their mistakes and find a way to close out games when they have the lead.
For PSG, this victory marks a significant milestone in their history, as they finally add the UEFA Super Cup to their trophy cabinet. It is also a testament to their resilience and never-say-die attitude, which saw them overcome a difficult situation to emerge victorious.