Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) side overcame a two-goal deficit to win their first UEFA Super Cup trophy against Tottenham Hotspur. PSG, the winners of last season’s UEFA Champions League, faced Tottenham, last season’s UEFA Europa League champions, in a much-anticipated clash at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy. Expectations were high for PSG, despite the French giants not playing any preseason friendlies.
Tottenham, under their new head coach, had already played six friendlies and looked sharper for most of the game. The North London club took the lead in the 39th minute through Micky van de Ven’s header. Shortly after the restart, newly appointed Spurs captain Cristian Romero doubled the lead with another header from a set piece in the 48th minute. At that point, the UEFA Super Cup trophy seemed destined for London.
Hope for PSG began to fade, reminiscent of their 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. Tottenham’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had barely been tested, and Spurs began slowing the game down with throw-ins and time-wasting tactics. But the battle was far from over.
How PSG Overcame Tottenham to Lift the UEFA Super Cup
A series of substitutions from PSG turned the match around. Fabian Ruiz came on for Desire Doué, who had been playing out of position in midfield in the absence of João Neves. Later, Lee Kang-in replaced Doué, and in the 85th minute, Lee unleashed a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard box to make it 2-1.
In stoppage time, last season’s super-sub Gonçalo Ramos rose highest to head in a cross from Ousmane Dembélé in the 94th minute, forcing the game into penalties.
The shootout started poorly for PSG when midfield maestro Vitinha sent his effort wide. However, new PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier saved Micky van de Ven’s penalty. Tottenham’s Mathys Tel also missed the target, giving Nuno Mendes the chance to score the decisive penalty and secure PSG’s first UEFA Super Cup and their fifth trophy overall.
