Rabat — Achraf Hakimi’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hopes to claim the UEFA Super Cup title came true tonight in Udine, Italy.
Following a well-fought game, the Parisian club settled the game in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw, ultimately winning 4-3 to claim the title.
Micky van de Ven opened the scoring for Tottenham, putting Spurs ahead in the 39th minute after pouncing on a rebound in a crowded PSG box.
Cristian Romero doubled the Premier League club’s lead early in the second half with a powerful header, sealing a disciplined performance from the Europa League winners.
Hakimi, starting at right-back, endured a subdued night.
Tottenham’s high prowess, pressing, and compact shape kept the Moroccan international pinned in defence, limiting his trademark overlapping runs.
His contributions came largely in tracking runners and breaking up attacks, with little opportunity to influence play in the opponent’s 18 square meters.
Although PSG’s manager Luis Enrique made changes with the hope of rewinding and finding their way to Tottenham’s net, the Spurs kept the 0-2 draw unchanged for large spells of the game.
It was not until minute 85 that Enrique’s substitutes made a difference in the game. The Korean Lee Kang-in reached Vicario’s net with an unstoppable strike, bringing life to the eyes of his teammates.
Ten minutes later, and late in added time, PSG’s Goncalo Ramos turned Osman Dembele’s assist into an equalizer, scoring his club’s second goal and proving that a game is never over until the final whistle.
PSG’s equalizer sent both clubs to the penalty kicks, where chance is as important as technical competence.
With so many kicks wasted from both sides, the Parisian club was able to make the hopes come true with a penalty score of 4-3.
Tottenham Hotspur’s dream to claim its first-ever UEFA Super Cup faded away tonight, leaving them with a search for answers ahead of the new season.
