Paris Saint-Germain won the Intercontinental Cup in a dramatic final, decided after penalty kicks, against the Copa Libertadores winner and fresh champion of Brazil - Flamengo, sportal.bg reported.
In regular time and extra time, the two teams finished 1:1. Hvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the score in the 38th minute, and Jorginho equalized from a penalty in the 62nd minute.
Luis Enrique's team had the advantage in the beginning. The French created their first serious danger in the fifth minute. Vitinha's cross found Neves uncovered in the penalty area. He did not take advantage and sent the ball into the outside of the net. PSG reached the goal in the tenth minute after a mistake by the Brazilian goalkeeper Rossi. The keeper cleared the ball from a difficult position, it fell to Fabian Ruiz, who sent it into the net. However, the goal was disallowed because the ball had left the field.
A good period followed for Flamengo, who reached a dangerous situation in front of the opponent's goal, but goalkeeper Safonov was not troubled. The Brazilians equalized the game and did not allow Rossi to create any chances, although PSG continued to have the advantage in possession of the ball. After half an hour of play, Kang-In Lee was injured and had to be replaced, and Seni Mayulu came in his place.
The French were unable to find many gaps in the opponent's defense, but took the lead in the 38th minute. Then Due sent a nice pass to Kvaratskhelia. The goalkeeper did not intervene well, touching the ball, but not clearing it, but making it easier for the Georgian, who chipped it into the empty net. The South American champion made some attempt to respond, but did not create anything significant until the break.
In the second half, Paris Saint-Germain had some control, but without creating any chances. A shot by Joao Neves did not trouble the goalkeeper. Flamengo waited for their moment and it came after an hour of play. De Arascaeta fell in the penalty area after a collision with Marquinhos. The referee went to see the situation on a monitor and awarded a penalty, which Jorginho converted.
The equalizer made the French increase the tempo, but the opponent's defense held firm and generally did not allow many dangerous situations for Rossi. Luis Enrique put Bradley Barcola into play, and in the 78th minute the winner of the “Golden Ball” appeared on the field Ousmane Dembele.
The equalizer made the French increase the tempo, but the opponent's defense held steady and generally did not allow dangerous situations for Rossi. Luis Enrique put Bradley Barcola into play, and in the 78th minute the winner of the “Golden Ball” Ousmane Dembele appeared on the field. PSG had the ball in large periods, but the Brazilians were excellently organized in defense. Dembele had the opportunity to shoot from a good position, but his shot was blocked.
The pressure of the European club champion left spaces for counterattacks. Five minutes before the end of regular time, Flamengo organized an excellent quick attack, but Pedro, who came on as a substitute, did not finish it in the best possible way. Seconds later, there was a mix-up in the penalty area in front of Safonovo and the PSG defenders managed to deal with the situation with effort. Deep into added time, the French could have scored a goal after an unconvincing performance by Rossi, but a shot by Dembele was stopped by Marquinhos in front of the goal.
The two teams did not score a goal in regular time and it came to extra time. In them, the Parisians dominated, and several dangerous situations came to the second extra time. The reserves of both teams, Njantu and Araujo, missed one opportunity each. Then Dembele shot twice in a short period. In the second situation, he feinted in the penalty area and was in a great position, but sent the ball over the goal. Barcola's shot was deflected, but fortunately for the goalkeeper, the ball went wide of the post.
In the penalty shootout, the Brazilians missed four consecutive penalty kicks, while the Parisians only missed two, and so the French team won their sixth trophy of the year.
PSG - FLAMENGO 1:1
1:0 - Kvaratskhelia (38)
1:1 - Jorginho (62-d)