Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) edged out Brazilian Flamengo in a shoot-out to win the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar on Wednesday with Back-up goalkeeper Matvei Safonov saving four penalties
PSG led through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before Jorginho’s spot-kick levelled for Flamengo as the game finished 1-1 after extra time.
Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo defeated Mexicans Cruz Azul and African champions Pyramids last week to face PSG and pushed the European champions all the way with a dogged display.
However Luis Enrique’s men, who received a bye to the final, were indebted to Safonov and followed in the footsteps of Real Madrid who lifted the inaugural title last year.
PSG thought they had taken the lead in the ninth minute when Fabian Ruiz cleverly hooked the ball into an empty net after Flamengo goalkeeper Agustin Rossi miskicked a clearance while trying to prevent a corner.
However, the goal was ruled out by VAR due to Rossi’s narrow failure to stop the ball from going out of play.
However, PSG broke the deadlock eight minutes before half-time courtesy of another Rossi error.
The Argentinian turned Desire Doue’s low cross, which appeared to be too strong for Kvaratskhelia, into the Georgian’s pass for a simple tap-in.
Flamengo remained in the game, however, and were awarded a penalty around the hour mark for a foul by Marquinhos on Uruguay midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta following a VAR review.
Jorginho, a former Chelsea and Arsenal player, stepped up and sent Safonov the wrong way in classic fashion.
PSG rushed for a winner, bringing on Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele, who set up a last-gasp chance for Marquinho.
However, the centre-back was unable to react quickly enough to direct his effort on target as the ball zipped across the net, sending the game into extra time.
Both sides saw half-chances come and go in the added half-hour, with Dembele flashing a shot narrowly off target in the 116th minute.
At the end of extra time, Safonov, playing in place of regular first-choice Lucas Chevalier who is still regaining full fitness after an ankle injury — to steal the headlines and spare the blushes of Dembele and Barcola who both missed for PSG.
