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Sunil Chhetri led Blue Tigers triumphed within the SAFF Championship 2023 ultimate, clinching victory with a 5-4 penalty shootout in opposition to Kuwait. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s decisive save sealed the win for coach Igor Stimac’s squad.
India vs Kuwait: In the SAFF Championship 2023 ultimate , Sunil Chhetri and co emerged victorious with a 5-4 penalty shootout win in opposition to Kuwait. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a vital save to safe the win for Igor Stimac’s aspect. Kuwait’s Shabaib Alkhaldi opened the scoring within the thirteenth minute by tapping the ball into the aim. However, the Indian Football Team equalized within the thirty eighth minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte fired in Sahal Abdul Samad’s squared ball.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s decisive save secured India’s ninth SAFF Championship title, reaffirming their regional dominance. The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, with Kuwait taking an early lead by way of Shabaib Al-Khaldi and Lallianzuala Chhangte equalizing for India. Igor Stimac made historical past as the primary overseas head coach to win consecutive SAFF Championship titles.
This victory marked India’s first back-to-back wins in opposition to two West Asian international locations, following their overcome Lebanon within the semi-finals. The sport began cautiously, with each groups specializing in ball retention and constructing from the protection. India had the primary shot on the right track, however Chhangte’s header from a Mishra cross lacked energy and was simply saved by Marzouq.
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Kuwait took the lead by way of a well-executed attacking play within the ultimate third. Al-Faneeni handed the ball to Al-Bloushi, who crossed it for an unmarked Al-Khaldi to attain.
Despite the deafening cheers of the group, India almost equalized instantly. Chhangte’s highly effective shot was saved by Marzouq, and Chhetri’s try from the rebound was cleared by Hajiah.
This likelihood ignited India’s assault, resulting in an intense offensive show. However, each groups confronted defensive setbacks with Al-Enezi and Ali being substituted as a result of accidents. Mehtab Singh changed the injured Ali.
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India responded with a good smoother aim for the equalizer. Kuruniyan had time on the ball on the left, discovering Chhetri, who then performed a first-time move to arrange Sahal Abdul Samad’s run into the field. Sahal laid the ball throughout the aim for Chhangte, who tapped it in with an open web.
Gurpreet, the hero of the semi-final, as soon as once more got here to India’s rescue with a vital save, diving low to push away Abdullah’s shot at his close to put up.
In response, Kuwait had two harmful moments. Mahesh performed a move to Rohit Kumar, whose cross narrowly missed Chhetri. Later, Chhangte discovered Udanta within the field, however he slipped earlier than Chhetri had an opportunity, solely to shoot over the aim.
The missed alternative led to the SAFF Championship Final going into additional time, a scenario that has occurred 5 instances within the event’s historical past. India confronted strain within the early phases of additional time, however strong defensive blocks from Mahesh Singh and Jhingan prevented any threats on Gurpreet’s aim.
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The match finally went to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, the second consecutive one for India within the 2023 SAFF Championship, following their victory in opposition to Lebanon.
Chhetri, Jhingan, Chhangte, and Subhasish efficiently transformed their penalties for India, whereas Al-Otaibi, Al-Dhefeery, Mahran, and Al-Khaldi scored for Kuwait. Udanta was the one Indian participant who missed his penalty, sending the ball over the crossbar, whereas Abdullah from Kuwait hit the woodwork.
The hero of the evening was India’s goalkeeper Gurpreet, who made the decisive save within the ultimate penalty taken by Kuwait’s captain Haijah, securing India their ninth SAFF Championship title.
India XI
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Nikhil Poojary, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, Jeakson Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri, Ashique Kuruniyan
Kuwait XI
Abdulrahman Marzouq, Khaled Hajiah, Hasan Alanezi, Abdullah Albloushi, Sultan Alenezi, Ahmad Afnj Aldhefeery, Mohammad Abdullah, Shabaib Alkhaldi, Redha Abujabarah, Hamad Alqallaf, Mobarak Alfaneeni
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