India win SAFF Championship 2023 after beating Kuwait in penalty shootout
India win SAFF Championship 2023 for the ninth time after beating Kuwait 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the game was tied 1-1 in regulation time at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
They have won their ninth SAFF Championship 2023 in 14 editions. After clinching the Intercontinental Cup last month, this was their second title.
India are also ranked 100th in the latest FIFA rankings. The regulation time was ended, and the score were level at 1-1, both teams were also unable to score in the extra-time.
Kuwait’s Shabaib Al Khaldi gave them an early lead in the 14th minute. However, newly-crowned AIFF Player of the Year Lallianzuala Chhangte equalised for India in the 39th minute of the match.
Head coach Igor Stimac was banned from the touchline and had to watch the match from the stands. Stimac made three changes from the starting eleven that started against Lebanon in the semi-finals.
Akash Mishra and Nikhil Poojary returned as full-backs. Sandesh Jhingan, also returned to the stating line-up after being suspended in the last match and replaced Mehtab Singh in defence.
India win SAFF Championship 2023 after beating Kuwait 5-4 in dramatic penalty shoot-out
India was playing cautiously at the start, and Kuwait were pressing high and attacked India’s defence with through balls and crosses. Al Feneeni dribbled past Indian half and passed the ball to unmarked Shabaib Al Khaldi, who slotted it home for them.
After conceding the first goal, India pushed forward for an equaliser, but Lallianzuala Chhangte’s long range effort was saved by Mubarak Marzouq.
However, Ashique Kuruniyan won the ball minutes later in Kuwait’s box and passed it to Indian captain Sunil Chhetri, who sent a through ball to Lallianzuala Chhangte, who slotted it home to make 1-1.
India clinch the SAFF Championship 2023 in a thrilling manner
No team was able to score a winning goal, and in the end it all came down to penalty shootout. India’s Udanta Singh missed one penalty for India, while Abdullah hit the post for Kuwait.
The nervousness was growing inside Sree Kanteerava Stadium. But, it was Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who saved the penalty of Kuwait’s captain Hajjeia in sudden death as India lifted SAFF Championship 2023 in a thrilling manner.
