PARIS (AP) — Ousmane Dembélé clinched victory for Paris Saint-Germain in stoppage time as they defeated Monaco 1-0 to secure the Champions Trophy on Sunday. The French winger capitalized on a pinpoint low cross from Fabian Ruiz to find the back of the net in the dying moments of added time.
PSG successfully defended their Champions Trophy title, commonly referred to as the super cup, for the third consecutive year, marking their 13th victory overall in the competition. The Parisian club, who clinched the league and cup double last season, continued their dominance with this latest triumph, while Monaco settled for a runner-up finish in the league standings.
The decisive match unfolded at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, where PSG, under the ownership of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) since 2011, showcased their prowess. Désiré Doué threatened early for PSG, striking the crossbar, as Monaco’s goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made a series of crucial saves to keep his team in contention.
Monaco’s fortunes shifted in the second half, with Eliesse Ben Seghir and Vanderson coming close to finding the equalizer, each hitting the woodwork. Despite Köhn’s heroics, a lapse in concentration during Ruiz’s assist denied Monaco the opportunity to lift the trophy for the first time since 2000.
In a separate fixture later on Sunday, Marseille aimed to solidify their hold on second place in Ligue 1 with a home match against Le Havre. Toulouse climbed to eighth place by securing a 1-0 win over Lens, who currently occupy seventh place, with Zakaria Aboukhlal converting a penalty in the 73rd minute to secure the victory.
Lens faced adversity as midfielder David Pereira da Costa received a second yellow card, resulting in his expulsion after a video review. Meanwhile, Angers emerged triumphant with a 2-0 win against Brest, while Strasbourg staged a comeback to defeat Auxerre 3-1 on home turf, propelling them to 10th place in the standings.
Angers’ early lead was established by Esteban Lepaul, with Ibrahima Niane sealing the victory in stoppage time after replacing Lepaul in the 75th minute. Strasbourg’s goals came from Habib Diarra, Félix Lemarechal, and Emanuel Emegha, overturning an early advantage secured by Hamed Traore for Auxerre in Alsace.
The developments in both the Champions Trophy and Ligue 1 fixtures underscore the intense competition and strategic maneuvers defining the French football landscape this season. For more updates on soccer news, visit the AP’s dedicated soccer hub at https://apnews.com/hub/soccer.
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