Bengaluru:Indian National Men’s Football team defeated Kuwait 5-4 on penalties to win the SAFF Championship 2023 in Bengaluru. The Blue Tigers made a history out of the momentous night on a fantastic Tuesday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s game-winning save secured India’s eighth sub-continental championship and opened a new chapter in the country’s dominance. Shabaib Al-Khaldi had given Kuwait the lead early on, but Lallianzuala Chhangte, the newly named AIFF Player of the Year, equalised late in the first half, and the score remained 1-1 after 120 minutes.
With this victory, Igor Stimac became the first foreign head coach to win back-to-back SAFF Championship. After winning the semi-final against Lebanon, India became the first nation to defeat two West Asian nations in consecutive games.
In a cautious start to the game, both teams attempted to cling to the ball and build from the back. Lallianzuala Chhangte of India’s poor header from an Akash Mishra cross was the game’s first shot on goal, and it sailed right into the clutches of Abdulrahman Marzouq.
Kuwait gained the lead in the final third with a well-executed play. Right-back Abdullah Al-Bloushi’s cutback was placed into the net by an unmarked Shabaib Al-Khaldi just beyond the six-yard box after Mobarak Al-Faneeni sprayed the ball to him.
If Kuwait’s opener was a true collective effort, India equalised 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. Chhetri passed him through with a first-time pass. The midfielder played it across the face of goal for Chhangte, who tapped it in with a gaping goal in front of him.
Kuwait struggled to keep their discipline towards the conclusion of the first half, with Reda Abujabarah, Al-Bloushi, Ahmad Al-Dhefeery, and assistant coach Ahmad Al-Shammari all receiving yellow cards.
At the hour mark, Chhangte missed a golden opportunity to double his and India’s total. With Sahal letting it go as he arrived from an offside position, Chhangte hit it first-time but couldn’t get enough purchase on the shot to concern Marzouq.
In an eager attack, Kuwait saw two long-range shots from Al-Qallaf and Abdullah go wide of Gurpreet’s goal. Al-Khaldi also missed two free kicks, both of which deflected off the wall, the first from 30 yards out and the second from just beyond the area.
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.
Set-pieces have been one of India’s most potent weapons in the tournament, and they attempted to capitalise on them in the 98th minute. Mahesh passed to Chhetri outside the box from a free-kick on the touchline, who smartly picked out Udanta, who had made a dummy move towards the byline, but his cross was blocked by the Kuwait backline.
Soon after the game resumed in the second half of extra time, Mehtab produced one of the night’s most critical stops, flinging his body at Fawaz Al-Otaibi’s close-range shot after Abdullah had sent him through with a clever backheel.
With just two minutes, the last chance to win it in normal time fell for India. Nikhil Poojary’s curling cross from the right dropped for Chhangte, who took it down before blazing over with his weaker right foot.
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. Abdullah struck the woodwork for Kuwait. Gurpreet Singh of the Blue Tigers was the night’s hero, save Kuwait captain Haijah’s last penalty in the SAFF Championship final to give India their eighth victory.
