Ousmane Dembele’s stoppage-time goal on Sunday gave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) a 1-0 victory over AS Monaco to claim the French Champions Trophy. The match, hosted at Doha’s Stadium 974, proved to be a test of resilience and determination for both teams, with PSG emerging victorious in the end.
Initially slated to be played in Beijing on August 8, the fixture was relocated to Qatar after Chinese authorities called off the event. As hosts of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar stepped in to stage the match at the iconic stadium, though the venue saw less-than-full attendance for the occasion.
PSG dominated much of the game but struggled to find the back of the net due to poor finishing and the heroic efforts of Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn.
Early on, Desire Doue nearly broke the deadlock, rattling the crossbar in the eighth minute. Monaco responded with strong chances, including a close-range effort by Vanderson that struck the post and a well-saved shot by PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The match seemed destined for penalties until Fabian Ruiz, introduced as a substitute, set up the decisive moment. In the 92nd minute, Ruiz delivered a precise low cross into the penalty area, which Dembele converted at the far post to seal the victory.
This win marks PSG’s 11th French Champions Trophy in 12 years, solidifying their domestic dominance and setting the stage for another ambitious season.
