PSG fight back to beat Spurs on penalties in Super Cup

UDINE: European champions Paris Saint-Germain began the new season by lifting more silverware on Wednesday as they beat Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic UEFA Super Cup after producing a late comeback from 2-0 down with five minutes left to draw the match.

Totteham looked set to give new manager Thomas Frank a winning start as they led 2-0 just after half-time at the Stadio Friuli. Micky van de Ven gave Spurs the lead on 39 minutes and Cristian Romero got their second goal three minutes into the second half.

However, PSG were rescued by two substitutes as Lee Kang-in pulled a goal back after 85 minutes and Goncalo Ramos headed the equaliser four minutes into stoppage time to level the scores at 2-2.

That meant a penalty shoot-out, although it started badly for PSG when Vitinha put their first kick wide. New Paris goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier then saved from Van de Ven and Mathys Tel missed the target, allowing Nuno Mendes to convert the winning penalty for PSG.

Dominic Solanke, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pedro Porro all scored from the spot for Spurs, in vain. Ramos, Ousmane Dembele and Lee converted for PSG before Mendes stepped up to bury the decisive spot-kick.

The PSG players poured on to the pitch in celebration, knowing they had etched their names into history as the first French side to lift the trophy. “It’s incredible to win like this. This team once again showed character, even if were not at our physical best,” PSG defender Marquinhos said.

“I am proud. We have hadn’t much preparation but you could see that football is not only about the physical aspect — it is also about the mental aspect, being in the right place, having the right tactics.

“They sat back a lot after going 2-0 up and it is dangerous to invite PSG to come at you like that. We managed to get the goals we needed through the substitutions, and in the shootout we have players who take their penalties well and a goalkeeper who helped us.”

It is the perfect start to the new campaign for Luis Enrique’s team, who had a shortened off-season break having lost the FIFA Club World Cup final to Chelsea exactly a month ago. They only began pre-season training a week ago and played no friendly matches before this game.

“It’s difficult to talk about this match We trained for only five-six days, it’s incredible,” Luis Enrique said. “For us, it’s really special to have won this trophy and to be able to offer it to them.”

PSG now begin the new Ligue 1 campaign on Sunday away to Nantes, while Spurs will turn their attentions to the start of the Premier League season as they take on Burnley at home on Saturday.

“I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world — maybe the best in this moment in time,” Frank said. “I think we had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes until the 2-1 goal. Then of course that shifted a little bit the momentum, but there was so much positive.

“I am so proud of the team, the players, the club, the fans. I think there is a lot to be happy with. It is a flip of a coin when you go into a penalty shoot-out.”

As well as Frank making his debut on the bench, new signings Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha both started for Spurs, who finished 17th in the Premier League last season.

Chevalier made his debut in goal for PSG following his arrival from Lille, a move which has sidelined Italy ‘keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Luis Enrique’s team, who won their first European Cup in May with a crushing 5-0 final win over Inter Milan.

The 23-year-old was called into action to tip over a Richarlison shot midway through the first half but he could not prevent Van de Ven giving the Premier League side the lead as the interval approached.

Chevalier did tip a Palhinha shot onto the bar after Spurs sent a ball into the Paris area, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to stop Dutch defender Van de Ven scoring the follow-up.

The new signing was then culpable as Tottenham scored again just after the break, with Chevalier too easily beaten by a header from the unmarked Romero.

It looked like it would not be PSG’s night as Bradley Barcola had an effort disallowed for an offside midway through the second half, but they saved the day with a remarkable late show.

Lee controlled a Vitinha pass before firing low into the far corner from the edge of the box after his side had dominated the closing stages, and Ramos met Ousmane Dembeles pinpoint cross across the face of goal with a diving header to send the game into a shootout.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2025

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