Paris Saint-Germain have secured their first-ever UEFA Super Cup title in a breathtaking final, staging a dramatic late comeback to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 2-2. The clash at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, on Wednesday, August 13, saw the Champions League winners snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Europa League holders.
The match marked the first competitive fixture for Tottenham under new manager Thomas Frank, and for 85 minutes, it appeared to be a dream debut. Spurs, who entered the contest with several key players sidelined by injury, put on a disciplined and impressive performance. They broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when defender Micky van de Ven found the back of the net, giving the English side a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Tottenham’s momentum continued into the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, newly appointed captain Cristian Romero rose to head home from a set-piece, doubling their advantage to 2-0 in the 48th minute. With a solid defensive shape and a two-goal cushion, Spurs looked poised to lift their first major European trophy since 2008 and deny PSG their maiden Super Cup crown.
However, Luis Enrique’s PSG, despite showing signs of fatigue from a packed summer schedule that included the FIFA Club World Cup, mounted a stunning late rally. The comeback began in the 85th minute when substitute Lee Kang-in fired a precise low drive into the bottom corner, breathing life back into the French champions. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, the pressure from PSG became relentless. In the 94th minute, a perfectly weighted cross from Ousmane Dembélé found fellow substitute Gonçalo Ramos, who stooped to head home a dramatic equalizer, sending the match directly to a penalty shootout, as per the competition’s rules which now bypass extra time.
The shootout was a tense affair filled with twists. Tottenham gained an early advantage after PSG’s Vitinha sent his opening spot-kick wide. Spurs successfully converted their first two penalties through Dominic Solanke and Rodrigo Bentancur. However, the tide turned when Micky van de Ven’s penalty was saved by PSG’s debutant goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier. After Mathys Tel missed the target for Spurs, the shootout was level. Pedro Porro scored to keep Tottenham’s hopes alive, but it came down to PSG’s final penalty taker, Nuno Mendes. The Portuguese defender made no mistake, confidently converting his kick to seal a 4-3 shootout victory.
The victory marks a historic moment for Paris Saint-Germain, who not only claim their first Super Cup but also become the first French club to win the trophy. For Tottenham, the result is a heartbreaking conclusion to a match they controlled for long periods. While the loss will sting, their performance under Thomas Frank against the champions of Europe offers a promising glimpse of what may come in the new season. PSG, meanwhile, add another piece of silverware to their collection, reinforcing their status as a dominant force in European football.
