Finance
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was once again the hero as India defeated Kuwait 5-4 on sudden death penalties in the final to defend the SAFF Championship title at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on Tuesday.
The Blue Tigers made football history by winning the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023, adding another chapter to India’s proud history in the SAFF Championship. This was India’s seventh title in the SAFF Championship, and what made it even sweeter was that India overcame both foreign teams — Lebanon in the semifinals and Kuwait in the final.
Sandhu’s winning save secured India’s ninth sub-continental victory in what was the greatest and most contested SAFF Championship ever, adding another chapter to the nation’s regional supremacy. The game ended 1-1 after 120 minutes; Shabaib Al-Khaldi had put Kuwait in front early on, and newly-crowned AIFF Player of the Year Lallianzuala Chhangte equalised later in the first half.
Igor Stimac became the first foreign head coach to win back-to-back SAFF Championships with this victory. This was also the first time India had defeated two West Asian countries in a row, having won the semi-final against Lebanon on penalties.
The game began cautiously, with both teams attempting to keep possession of the ball and build from the back. Lallianzuala Chhangte’s header from an Akash Mishra cross fell straight into the gloves of Abdulrahman Marzouq, giving India the first shot on target.
Kuwait gained the lead in the final third with a well-executed play. Mobarak Al-Faneeni blasted the ball to Abdullah Al-Bloushi on the right flank, whose cutback was placed into the net by an unmarked Shabaib Al-Khaldi right outside the six-yard box.
The hosts, unfazed by the thundering support of the maximum crowd, nearly levelled in the very next minute. Marzouq saved Chhangte’s powerful left-footed strike from the edge of the box before Chhetri ran in to meet the rebound, but Khaled Hajiah pushed it away.
That opportunity set off the Indian front line, and the cautious opening gave way to an all-out assault. However, both teams suffered defensive setbacks when Hasan Al-Enezi and Anwar Ali were forced to be substituted due to injury. The Indian suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Mehtab Singh.
If Kuwait’s opener was a true collective effort, India equalized with an even more silky smooth goal. After being given time on the ball on the left, Ashique Kuruniyan found up Sunil Chhetri, who then saw Sahal Abdul Samad’s run into the box and passed him through with a first-time pass. The midfielder played it across the face of the goal for Chhangte, who tapped it in with a gaping goal in front of him.
The two teams made numerous tries but were unable to find the net. Gurpreet Singh, India’s semi-final hero, came to the team’s rescue again in the dying minutes of the second half, diving low at his near post to block Abdullah’s right-footed attempt.
Kuwait had two close calls right away on the other end. On the overlap, Mahesh came across Rohit Kumar, whose cutback fell just behind Chhetri and into no man’s land. Just before the end of the game, Chhangte found Udanta in the box, who stumbled before the loose ball fell for Chhetri, who could only shoot over.
The trend continued throughout extra time, with both teams creating chances but failing to strike the back of the net.
In the end, it came down to the dreaded penalty shootout, India’s second in a succession in the 2023 SAFF Championship after defeating Lebanon from the 12-yard line.
India’s goals came from Chhetri, Jhingan, Chhangte, and Subhasish, while Kuwait’s came from Al-Otaibi, Al-Dhefeery, Mahran, and Al-Khaldi. Udanta was India’s lone failing penalty taker, shooting his spot-kick over the crossbar, while Abdullah struck the woodwork for Kuwait.
Sandhu was the hero of the night, save Kuwait captain Haijah’s final penalty in the SAFF Championship final to give India their eighth victory.
Source:OCN
