Tottenham collapse late as PSG fight back to claim Super Cup in penalty shootout

Paris Saint-Germain snatched the UEFA Super Cup in the most dramatic of fashions, breaking Tottenham Hotspur hearts with a last-gasp equaliser before sealing a 4-3 win on penalties.

Tottenham had one hand on the trophy for most of the game. Two goals up, disciplined, and playing with the kind of control that makes nights like this feel routine.

But PSG had other ideas in the dying moments.

Micky van de Ven put Spurs in front just before half-time, reacting quickest to a loose ball from a set piece.

Cristian Romero’s header early in the second half doubled the lead and tightened their grip. Tottenham looked comfortable. In truth, PSG didn’t.

Late drama flips the script

Then the game changed. Luis Enrique shuffled things, and suddenly his team had energy.

Lee Kang-in’s strike in the 85th minute gave the Parisians hope. Deep into stoppage time, Ousmane Dembele then whipped in a cross and Goncalo Ramos stooped low to head past Guglielmo Vicario.

The equaliser came in the 94th minute. The stadium came alive. Spurs were stunned.

With the full-time whistle blowing at 2-2, the winner would be decided on penalties.

Van de Ven missed. Mathys Tel missed. PSG didn’t blink, aside from Vitinha’s miss.

Lucas Chevalier saved one, Nuno Mendes scored the winner, and just like that, the Champions League holders had their hands on another trophy - becoming the first French side to win the Super Cup.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Estevao and Joao Pedro shine as Chelsea wrap up pre-season in style with emphatic wins over Leverkusen and AC Milan

Frank proud despite heartbreak

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Spurs’ head coach Thomas Frank, while unhappy with the result, still spoke with pride over his side’s performance.

"In one game, I think we can show we can play against any team in the world. I'm not in doubt about that and that's a positive to take away from this,” he said.

"We had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes until they made it 2-1. Then it shifted the momentum but I'm so proud of the team, players, club and fans.

"We showed we can be adaptable and pragmatic. We needed to be that against a team like PSG with the way we wanted to defend with both high pressure and a low block. The first half was almost perfect and the set-pieces were very dangerous.

"I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world, maybe the best."

Tottenham had done almost everything right, but PSG reminded everyone why experience and composure matter when it counts.

For Spurs, it’s a cruel lesson. For PSG, it’s another night where they proved that even when they’re not at their best, they still find a way.

READ NEXT: From Tokyo heartbreak to Paris glory: Olympian Amber Rutter on resilience and peak performance