Paris Saint-Germain dramatically defeated Tottenham 4-3 on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday night. Thomas Frank endured heartbreak in his first competitive match as Tottenham manager, having taken over from Ange Postecoglou days after Spurs won the Europa League last campaign.
Tottenham appeared to be cruising towards Frank's first trophy when Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero scored either side of half-time. The north London club controlled proceedings against the Champions League winners, building what seemed an unassailable 2-0 advantage heading into the closing stages at Stadio Friuli in Italy.
PSG's dramatic late comeback
The French champions staged a remarkable recovery through substitutes Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos. Kang-in struck from distance in the 85th minute before Ramos equalised in stoppage time to force the penalty shootout drama.
Van de Ven and Mathys Tel both missed their spot kicks in the shootout, with Nuno Mendes scoring the decisive penalty to hand PSG victory. The defeat comes just days before Tottenham host Burnley at their home stadium on Saturday to begin the new Premier League season.
Standout individual performances
The comprehensive player ratings revealed contrasting performances across both teams. Pape Sarr earned praise for delivering "a midfield masterclass" with his energy and defensive work, while Ballon d'Or nominee Vitinha was described as "a shadow of his usual self" until the late stages.
Mohammed Kudus showcased why Tottenham paid £55 million to sign him from West Ham with an impressive display. The winger's pace and directness caused constant problems for PSG's defence throughout the match.
Frank's tactical approach
The former Brentford manager showed great tactical nous by starting with a back three that turned Spurs into a rock-solid defensive unit. His tactical decisions almost delivered immediate silverware in his managerial debut at the highest level.
PSG manager Luis Enrique nearly left it too late to change his approach to deal with Tottenham's direct style of play. However, his crucial substitutions ultimately changed the game and rescued the Champions League winners from what looked like certain defeat.
Sources used: "Daily Mail" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
