Back-up goalkeeper Matvei Safonov saved four penalties as Paris Saint-Germain edged out Brazilians Flamengo 2-1 in a shoot-out to win the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar on Wednesday.
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 earn the right to face PSG and pushed the European champions all the way with a dogged display.
But 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.
But the goal was ruled out by VAR because Rossi had narrowly failed to stop the ball from going out of play.
But PSG did break the deadlock eight minutes before half-time courtesy of another Rossi error.
The Argentinian turned Desire Doue’s low cross, which looked to be too strong for Kvaratskhelia, straight into the Georgian’s pass for the simplest of tap-ins. Flamengo managed to stay in the game, though, and were awarded a penalty on the hour mark for a foul by Marquinhos on Uruguay midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta after a VAR review. Former Chelsea and Arsenal player Jorginho stepped up to send Safonov the wrong way in trademark fashion. PSG pressed for a winner, sending on Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele who set up a last-gasp chance for Marquinhos.
But the center-back could not react quickly enough to get his effort on target as the ball flashed across goal and the game headed into extra time. Both teams saw half-chances come and go in the added half-hour, with Dembele flashing a shot narrowly off target in the 116th minute. That set the stage for 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.