In a heart-stopping finale, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) emerged victorious in the Intercontinental Cup, defeating Flamengo 2-1 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 after extra time. The hero of the night was undoubtedly Matvey Safonov, PSG’s Russian goalkeeper, who produced a string of stunning saves to secure the win.
A Match of Drama and Tension
The match was a tale of two halves, with PSG dominating possession (62%) and creating chances in the first half, but struggling to break down Flamengo’s resilient defense. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, but Flamengo’s Jorginho equalized with a penalty in the 62nd minute.
As the game went into extra time, both teams had opportunities to win it, but the scores remained level, setting the stage for a tense penalty shootout.
Safonov Steals the Show
Safonov, PSG’s backup goalkeeper, was the hero of the night, saving four penalties to secure the win. The Russian shot-stopper was in inspired form, denying Saul Niguez, Pedro, Leo Pereira, and Luiz Araujo, and cementing his place in PSG history.
A Season of Success for PSG
This win marks PSG’s sixth major title of 2025, adding to their impressive haul of Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup victories. Flamengo, the Copa Libertadores winners, had a strong run, beating Cruz Azul and Pyramids to reach the final, but ultimately came up short.
The victory is a testament to PSG’s strength and depth, and Safonov’s heroics will go down in history as one of the greatest penalty shootout performances of all time.
By: Andrews Addotey
