DOHA, Qatar — In an exhilarating finale at the Intercontinental Cup, Matvei Safonov showcased his goalkeeping prowess by making four consecutive penalty saves, leading Paris Saint-Germain to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Flamengo after a 1-1 draw following extra time. This triumph marks PSG’s sixth trophy of 2025.
Following his standout performance in the shootout, Safonov was lifted in celebration by his teammates, capping a remarkable year for the French club.
Throughout the past 12 months, PSG has amassed an impressive collection of titles, including the Trophée des Champions, the French League, the French Cup, the Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup, the latter also decided by penalties against Tottenham in August.
Vitinha, who initiated the scoring in the shootout for PSG, expressed his team’s unwavering commitment and acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by the Brazilian champions.
“Flamengo is an incredible, highly competitive team,” the Portuguese midfielder remarked. “I understand that compliments won’t hold much weight for them, as they also aimed for victory. The best praise I can offer is that we were fully dedicated in this match; we desperately wanted to win this competition, and in the end, it was decided on penalties.”
“Kudos to them, as they displayed quality and determination right up to the final whistle. They made it very challenging for us. We hoped to finish the game sooner, but it ultimately came down to penalties.”
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for PSG in the 38th minute, but Flamengo equalized in the 62nd minute when Marquinhos fouled, allowing Jorginho to convert a penalty for Flamengo, who were aiming for their second Intercontinental Cup title since 1981.
“It’s been an incredible year. Mistakes happen; I’ve missed a penalty before,” Jorginho reflected post-match. “I can only express pride in what the team accomplished—they fought hard and gave everything on the field to honor their jersey. It’s disappointing to end this way, leaving behind a bittersweet feeling.”
Recently, Flamengo secured the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian championship titles.
This victory marks PSG’s first global title.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this recap.