In a dramatic conclusion to the French Champions Trophy held in Kuwait City, Paris Saint-Germain emerged victorious against arch-rivals Marseille following a tense penalty shootout on Thursday. The match culminated in a 4-1 penalty decision after an electrifying 90 minutes concluded with a 2-2 deadlock.
PSG’s goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier emerged as the definitive hero of the encounter, delivering two critical saves during the penalty phase against Matt O’Riley and Hamed Traore. The decisive moment arrived when Desire Doue confidently converted the final spot-kick, securing PSG’s record-extending 14th title in this competition.
The match narrative unfolded with early dominance from PSG as Ballon d’Or recipient Ousmane Dembele exhibited exquisite technique to chip the ball over Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Both custodians demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the match, with Rulli preventing Nuno Mendes from extending PSG’s advantage and Chevalier making remarkable saves against Emerson’s powerful strike and Igor Paixao’s header.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the closing stages when Chevalier’s challenge resulted in a penalty award after VAR intervention, which Mason Greenwood calmly converted. Marseille appeared destined for their first trophy since 2012 when William Pacho’s errant clearance confused his own goalkeeper, creating an unexpected opportunity.
However, PSG demonstrated characteristic resilience with Goncalo Ramos delivering a crucial equalizer during injury time by deftly redirecting Bradley Barcola’s cross, ultimately forcing the match into penalties.
The event was notably overshadowed by significant fan discontent regarding the overseas location, with Marseille supporters previously displaying a banner questioning the choice of Kuwait as host venue. The French Football Federation has historically moved the Super Cup internationally to promote Ligue 1 globally, with prior editions hosted across four continents.
Both teams now return to domestic commitments with PSG pursuing leadership positions in both Ligue 1 and their Champions League group, while Marseille seek to improve their standing in both competitions.