PSG Win French Champions Trophy on Penalties

French club, Paris Saint-Germain, beat Marseille on penalties to win a topsy-turvy French Champions Trophy in Kuwait on Thursday.

PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was the hero of the night, saving two spot-kicks as PSG took the penalty lottery 4-1 after a frenetic end to the match left the two sides locked at 2-2.

Desire Doue converted the decisive spot-kick after Chevalier had saved efforts from Marseille’s Matt O’Riley and Hamed Traore.

PSG had taken an early lead when their Ballon d’Or-winning attacker Ousmane Dembele deftly lifted the ball over Marseille’s keeper Geronimo Rulli.Only Rulli’s quick thinking prevented Nuno Mendes from doubling PSG’s advantage minutes later.

Rulli’s opposite number, Chevalier, displayed his own goalkeeping prowess when denying Marseille defender Emerson’s goal-bound shot after the half hour. PSG had Chevalier to thank again when the stopper somehow kept out Igor Paixao’s header near the hour mark.

But with a quarter of an hour remaining, an ugly challenge by Chevalier caused a Marseille penalty and, after confirmation from VAR, former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood coolly converted the spot-kick.

PSG Win French Champions Trophy on Penalties. AFP

With the match only three minutes away from penalties, centre-back Willian Pacho’s ill-advised clearance flummoxed his ‘keeper as Marseille suddenly seemed set to seal their first silverware since their 2012 French League Cup title.

But in the fifth minute of injury time, Goncalo Ramos poked Bradley Barcola’s cross in to level and send the game to penalties, and ultimately victory for Luis Enrique’s PSG.

This was PSG’s record-extending 14th win in the equivalent of France’s ‘Super Cup’ in a game virtually shunned by both sides’ fans due to travel costs.

The fixture traditionally between the Ligue 1 champions and French Cup winners has led a nomadic existence over the years as the French Football Federation seeks to promote Ligue 1 beyond its borders. Previous editions have been staged in Canada, China, Gabon, Israel, Qatar, the USA, Morocco and Austria, amongst other venues.

After this awayday in the Middle East, the two teams refocus on domestic matters next week, with French Cup outings before PSG, one point behind Lens in second, host Lille next Friday, and Marseille, seven points adrift of PSG in third, travel to Angers.

With PSG winning both the league and the French Cup last season, Marseille’s presence in Kuwait was due to being league runners-up in 2024/25, albeit a yawning 19 points behind their arch rivals.

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Tope Oke

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