Intercontinental Cup to Psg, Flamengo beaten on penalties

Paris Saint Germain won the Intercontinental Cup with difficulty and on penalties by beating Flamengo, a title won in fact by goalkeeper Safonov, who managed to save four penalties for the Brazilians at the end of a game that was very evenly balanced until the 120th minute, with Flamengo dominating at times.

Neves squandered Psg's possible lead in the fifth minute by sending the hooked ball outside the box after a spot-kick. The lead came shortly afterwards, in the 10th minute, when Rossi's unfortunate exit was taken advantage of by Fabian Ruiz's left-footed volley from distance as the Brazilian goalkeeper was in the process of coming back. But it was the Var system that brought the score back to 0-0: Rossi's rebound was with the ball already out.

The French lead arrived in the 38th minute with Kvaratskhelia on an assist from Doué, who recovered a ball lost by Flamengo. There were three minutes of added time. In the second half, Rossi saved on Neves' shot in the 51st minute. But it was the Brazilians who changed the result by finding the equaliser in the 61st minute with Jorginho who beat Safonov with a header. In the 81st minute, Psg found a series of chances, all missed, with Barcola, Dembelé and Mendes, in the 85th minute it was Flamengo who missed the advantage with Pedro and in the 86th minute with Plata.

Four minutes of added time were allotted, turned into seven and it went into extra time. Marquinhos' header in the 98th minute was parried. Newly-entered Ndjantou tried in the 107th minute, ball out. Dembelé was dangerous in the 115th minute, his shot from distance went over the crossbar. Before reaching the penalty shoot-out, Mendes tried everything from distance with a left-footed shot, but Rossi's shot was well struck for a corner. The first to miss was Flamengo with Niguez being parried by Safonov, then it was Dembelé who sent the ball high, Safonov parried again on Pedro's kick. Mendez sent Psg ahead by dispatching Rossi, Safonov saved again on Pereira, Barcola was parried by Rossi and Flamengo hoped. Again Safonov, hero of the evening with four penalties saved, parried Araujo and took the Cup to Paris.