By Our Football Correspondent in Doha
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN were crowned the undisputed kings of world football last night, but they had to do it the hard way in the shimmering heat of the Qatari desert.
In a nerve-shredding Intercontinental Cup final that pushed both sides to the absolute limit, the French champions eventually overcame Brazilian giants Flamengo 2-1 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
While the football was high-octane, the real star of the show was the breathtaking Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.
Rising out of the dunes like a glowing crown on the outskirts of Doha, the 42,000-capacity venue provided a cauldron-like atmosphere that seemed to favor the South American fans until the very final kick.
The venue, famed for its intricate “glowing” facade that mirrors the patterns of Qatari culture, was packed to the rafters.
From the first whistle, the Al Rayyan landmark was a sea of red, black, and Parisian blue.
The humidity of the Gulf night didn’t slow the pace, as both teams fought for every blade of the pristine Qatari turf.
PSG took the lead in the 38th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia silenced the drumming Flamengo support, slotting home after a frantic scramble in the box.
But the Brazilians, spurred on by a vocal “Maracanã-style” atmosphere transported to the Middle East, leveled through a Jorginho penalty in the 62nd minute.
As the clock ticked past midnight local time, the tension at the Ahmad bin Ali was palpable. Extra time couldn’t separate the continental titans, leading to a shootout that was more a test of nerves than skill.
In a bizarrely low-scoring shootout where keepers reigned supreme under the desert lights, PSG’s Matvey Safonov became the hero of Doha.
He denied Flamengo’s Luiz Araújo with a stunning save to seal a 2-1 victory on spot-kicks, sparking wild celebrations from the Parisian bench.
The victory sees Luis Enrique’s men complete a historic “Sextuple,” adding the Intercontinental Cup to their Champions League and domestic trophies.
As the fireworks lit up the Al Rayyan sky, Paris Saint-Germain stood tall as the best on the planet, conquering the world in the heart of Qatar.
