Matvei Safonov the shoot-out hero as PSG edge past Flamengo to win Intercontinental Cup
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Paris Saint-Germain's Matvey Safonov celebrates with teammates after winning the penalty shoot-out.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DOHA – Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique looked back on an “unforgettable” year for his team after they won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Dec 17 and said that they are hungry to win more titles.
Backup goalkeeper Matvei Safonov saved four penalties, as PSG edged out Brazilian club Flamengo 2-1 in a shoot-out to win the final in Qatar.
PSG led through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before Jorginho’s spot kick levelled for Flamengo as the game finished 1-1 at full time and 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 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 in 2024.
“I think this year is impossible to repeat for Paris Saint-Germain. It’s an unforgettable year,” said Enrique. “Six trophies, not bad. We must keep going. It’s our mentality to keep winning and keep making history. That’s what we want. Our objective will be the same – to keep winning and playing our best football.”
In 2025, PSG won Ligue 1, the French Cup, the Trophy of Champions, the Champions League, the European Super Cup and now their maiden Intercontinental Cup.
Against Flamengo, PSG broke the deadlock seven minutes before half-time courtesy of an error by opposing goalkeeper Agustin Rossi.
The Argentinian turned Desire Doue’s low cross, which looked to be too strong for Kvaratskhelia, straight into the Georgian’s path for the simplest of tap-ins.
Flamengo managed to stay in the game, though, and were awarded a penalty on the hour mark. Former Chelsea and Arsenal player Jorginho stepped up to send Safonov the wrong way.
PSG pressed for a winner, sending on Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele, who set up a last-gasp chance for Marquinhos. But the centre back could not react quickly enough to get his effort on target.
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.
In other news, Kylian Mbappe moved tantalisingly close to Cristiano Ronaldo’s calendar-year scoring record for Real Madrid with a brace, as they earned a 3-2 victory at third-tier Talavera de la Reina to reach the Copa del Rey’s last 16.
The Frenchman, who came into the game with 56 goals scored in all competitions in 2025, is now one goal shy of the 59-goal calendar-year record set by Ronaldo in 2013. AFP
