India vs Kuwait SAFF Championship 2023 Final Updates: India Win on Penalties
India vs Kuwait SAFF Championship 2023 Final Updates: India won their ninth title.
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India defeated Kuwait in the final of SAFF Championship 2023.
The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.
Shabaib Al Khaldi opened the scoring for Kuwait, before Lallianzuala Chhangte's equaliser for India.
India then went on to win 5-4 on penalties, courtesy an excellent save from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
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India vs Kuwait Live: Stakes Are at Their Highest
After fourteen matches, most of which have been exhilarating from start to finish, we have arrived at the final, and most crucial juncture of the SAFF Championship 2023 – the final.
Hosts India have progressed to what is their 13th appearance in the final of this competition, and this time around, they perhaps have exceeded expectations on a few occasions.
The challenge was stern against Lebanon in the semi-final, but Sunil Chhetri and his teammates won a battle of nerves on penalties, with goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu emerging as the saviour.
Against Kuwait, the battle is likely to be even tougher. Albeit Rui Bento's team has a rank of 141 on FIFA's standings, owing to repeated suspensions, Kuwait have recently defeated formidable international teams like Zambia and the United Arab Emirates, and will now aim to add a maiden SAFF Championship trophy to their cabinet.
India vs Kuwait Live: India Starting XI
Head coach Igor Stimac is still unavailable owing to his two-game suspension, but having served his time out of action, veteran centre-back Sandesh Jhingan is back in the Indian starting XI.
He replaces Mehtab Singh, whereas the full-back pairing has been changed too, with Nikhil Poojary and Akash Mishra replacing Pritam Kotal and Subhasish Bose respectively. Ashique Kuruniyan, meanwhile, retains his place, with Naorem Mahesh Singh on the bench.
India starting XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Nikhil Poojary, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra; Anirudh Thapa, Jeakson Singh; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sahal Abdul Samad, Ashique Kuruniyan; Sunil Chhetri.
India vs Kuwait Live: Kuwait Starting XI
Kuwait's head coach, Rui Bento has rolled his team out in a 4-3-3 formation, focusing primarily on attacking. Mubarak Al Faneni, the 28-year-old striker from Al-Salmiya, is leading the lines, with Shabaib Al Khaldi and Mohammad Abdullah Daham playing on the flanks.
Kuwait Starting XI: Abdulrahman Kameel; Abdullah Al-Buloishi, Hasan Al Enezi, Khalid El Ebrahim, Hamad Al Qallaf; Ahmed Al-Dhefiri, Sultan Al Enezi, Reda Hani; Shabaib Al Khaldi, Mubarak Al Faneni, Mohammad Abdullah Daham.
India vs Kuwait Live: Off We Go
1' KICK-OFF!
Huge game for both teams, and for those witnessing it live, either at the stadium or through their screens.
India vs Kuwait Live: First Attack
4' First attack for India. A cross comes in from the left flank and it finds Lallainzuala Chhangte, whose header is directed straight at the Kuwaiti goalkeeper, Abdulrahman Kameel.
India vs Kuwait Live: India Dominating Proceedings
6' India earn a corner, with the left flank pulling the strings once again. However, Anirudh Thapa's delivery is parried away by Kameel.
This has been a bright start from the Blue Tigers, who are playing in orange today.
India vs Kuwait Live: GOAL!
15' GOALLLLL!
What an anti-climax for India! They have dominated much of the first 15 minutes of the game, but ultimately, it is Kuwait who have made their chances count.
A rapid counter-attack sees the Indian backline out of shape, as Al-Buloishi drilled in a precise ball into the box from the right flank. Shabaib Al-Khaldi found himself completely unmarked, and had no troubles whatsoever in beating Gurpreet Singh Sandhu with his shot.
India vs Kuwait Live: India Nearly Equalise
18' Nearly the equaliser!
Lallianzuala Chhangte comes up with a powerful strike just moments after Kuwait's goal, but Kameel comes up with an equally impressive save, before El Ebrahim cleared the danger.
From the resulting corner, Anirudh Thapa's shot was saved again by Kameel. The Kuwait SC goalkeeper is earning his money fair and square today.
India vs Kuwait Live: Crowd Erupts in Bande Mataram Wave
21' This has been a common tradition at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, and like other matches, there is another rendition of Bande Mataram. Will this result in a goal?
India vs Kuwait Live: Tempers Flare
28' It is getting heated up between the two sets of players. Sandesh Jhingan is handed a yellow card for allegedly elbowing a player in blue, but the Indian players are pleading innocence. Kuwait, on similar lines, are unhappy too, as the foul is on Hamad Al Harbi, who has just come on as a substitute for the injured Hasan Al Enezi.
India vs Kuwait Live: New Song
32' The crowd in Bengaluru is doing all they can to bring out the best of both worlds – Indian and western – as after Bande Mataram, they are now singing We Will Rock You.
We are assuming both Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Freddie Mercury would have loved the idea.
India vs Kuwait Live: Forced Change
35' Kuwait has had to make a forced substitution earlier in the game, and now, it is India's turn. Anwar Ali is down and he will not be able to continue, with Mehtab Singh coming on for him.
India vs Kuwait Live: India Equalise
39' EQUALISER! Lallianzuala Chhangte comes up trumps!
A complete team effort from the Indian attackers, and just like that, parity has been restored in the game!
Ashique Kuruniyan finds Chhetri outside the box, who does ever so well to subtly place a pass for Sahal Abdul Samad inside the box. The Kerala Blasters midfielder deserve praise as well, as he showed composure and presence of mind by not snapping at the opportunity, but instead, selflessly squaring it for Lallianzuala Chhangte, who has the easiest of tasks to tuck home the ball into an empty net.
Unbelievable atmosphere in Bengaluru now, and considering how the game is flowing, Kuwait would much prefer going to the lemon break with this scoreline.
India vs Kuwait Live: Everyone (Well, Nearly) Gets a Yellow Card
45+2' The referee, Prajwol Chhetri, is now doing a perfect Oprah Winfrey imitation, except that instead of a car, everyone is getting yellow cards. Three members from the Kuwait team – two players and an official – get into the book.
The other Chhetri, in Indian skipper Sunil, meanwhile, is trying to calm his troops. Wise move there.
India vs Kuwait Live: Half-Time
45+5' AND, BREATHE!
The final has matched the expectations, and we couldn't have asked for anything more. India have been the dominant side, and perhaps, the break comes at the right moment for Kuwait. However, Bento's team does look effective on the counters, and having conceded once, India will need to wary of this particular threat.
Big 45 minutes coming up. We'll be right back.
India vs Kuwait Live: Back Underway
47' We are back, and India are on the attack straightaway. Nikhil Poojari launches a cross from the right flank, but the Kuwaiti goalkeeper got to the ball before its intended target, Sunil Chhetri could.
India vs Kuwait Live: Even Stevens
55' There has not been many notable instances in this half so far, except that Akash Mishra just made a darting run, which might as well be enough to get him a place in the sprint events of Asian Games.
India vs Kuwait Live: Big Chance
63' A rare clear-cut opening in this half, and perhaps, Lallianzuala Chhangte should have done better. Having already scored once, the winger unexpectedly found himself through on goal, but his shot is directed straight at the Kuwaiti goalkeeper.
India vs Kuwait Live: 5 Yellow Cards For Kuwait
68' The Kuwaiti players have been collecting yellow cards as if they are infinity stones. Mohammad Abdullah Daham is the latest to get into the booked, joining four predecessors from his team, as he brings Chhetri down in an attempt to scupper a counter-attack.
India vs Kuwait Live: Changes for India
72' Mahesh Gawli has decided it is now high time to inject fresh legs. On cue, Rohit Kumar and Naorem Mahesh Singh come on for Anirudh Thapa and Ashique Kuruniyan respectively.
India vs Kuwait Live: Chhetri Animated
82' With folded hands, Sunil Chhetri is seen requesting his defenders to not commit fouls in dangerous areas, as the latest Kuwaiti free-kick narrowly misses target. Meanwhile, having already been booked previously, Sandesh Jhingan could consider himself fortunate to his still on the pitch, as his latest challenge goes unbooked.
India vs Kuwait Live: India Survive Scare
89' Despite Chhetri's earnest appeals, the Indian backline conceded yet another free-kick in an ominous position, but the wall did well to clear the danger from the subsequent attempt.
Meanwhile, there's another Indian change, with Udanta Singh coming on for Sahal Abdul Samad.
India vs Kuwait Live: Gurpreet Emerges as Saviour Again
90+2' HUGE SAVE!
Gurpreet, India's saviour in the semis, has just pulled off a Gurpreet by making the most important save of the game so far. Mohammad Abdullah Daham comes up with a powerful shot after finding himself in space inside the box, but the Indian shot-stopper gets down to his right just in time to parry it away.
India vs Kuwait Live: Frantic End, Extra Time Up Next
End of normal time.
We have had a frantic end to the stipulated period, with India creating two opportunities which were not capitalised upon. Once again, extra time beckons, as we now enter a phase of grueling test of stamina and character.
India vs Kuwait Live: Kuwait On Top
96' Kuwait have played their best football in the last four minutes. There have been four chances since resumption, all for the boys in blue, for fortunately for India, none of those chances resulted in a second goal for Rui Bento's team.
India vs Kuwait Live: Inseparable After 105 Minutes
105' Half-Time.
Final 15 minutes are upon us. Notably, India have regained control of the game again, though Kuwait had another attempt, with Gurpreet adding another save to his competition tally.
India vs Kuwait Live: Bright Start From Kuwait, Again
109' Kuwait have successfully replicated their start from the first period of extra time, as they have had three half-chances in the first four minutes of the second period. However, the Indian backline remains firm.
India vs Kuwait Live: Chhangte Fires Wide
118' Was this the last chance of the game?
Nikhil Poojari beats everyone down the right flank before launching a cross, and Lallianzuala Chhangte does brilliantly well to beat his marker with his first touch. However, the winger then fired his attempt high and wide.
India vs Kuwait Live: Penalties Beckon
120+3' Time for penalties.
Dread it, run from it, but destiny penalties still arrive. And, they have arrived.
Will Gurpreet Singh Sandhu be India's hero again? Or, will it be the Kuwaiti keeper, the 22-year-old Abdulrahman Kameel, who will earn all the plaudits in a few minutes' time?
Questions aplenty. Answers will be available soon. Check your pulse, drink some water, calm your nerves.
India vs Kuwait Live: Penalties
India to take the first kick.
India 1-0 Kuwait – Sunil Chhetri scores.
India 1-0 Kuwait – Mohammad Abdullah Daham misses.
India 2-0 Kuwait – Sandesh Jhingan scores.
India 2-1 Kuwait – Fawaz Al Otaibi scores.
India 3-1 Kuwait – Lallianzuala Chhangte scores.
India 3-2 Kuwait – Ahmed Al-Dhefiri scores.
India 3-2 Kuwait – Udanta Singh MISSES!
India 3-3 Kuwait – Abdul Aziz Naji scores.
India 4-3 Kuwait – Subhasish Bose scores.
India 4-4 Kuwait – Shabaib Al Khaldi scores.
SUDDEN DEATH NOW!
India 5-4 Kuwait – Naorem Mahesh Singh scores.
India 5-4 Kuwait – Khalid El Ebrahim misses. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu SAVES!
India have won the SAFF Championship 2023!
India vs Kuwait Live: India Conquer South Asia
JOB DONE!
Exceptional display from the Indians, not just in this particular game, but all throughout the tournament. Igor Stimac's men have delivered every time the chips were down, and the stakes were high, and it was all replicated tonight.
The challenge was always going to be stern against a formidable Kuwaiti side, but India did well to dominate the game, and then not let a goal against the run of play derail their plans, with Lallianzuala Chhangte scoring a crucial equaliser.
When it all boiled down to penalties, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu emerged as India's saviour for the umpteenth time in this career. His name already has 19 characters, but it could be increased 25 – let him be known as Gurpreet 'Clutch' Singh Sandhu.
Sunil Chhetri might not have been India's best player on the pitch tonight, but the skipper deserves praise for how he marshalled his troops, and potentially, prevented a few from getting sent off.
The experienced war general looked in no doubt of converting from the spot, but the likes of Naorem Mahesh Singh should also be applauded for being precise when nerves went through the roof.
As for Udanta, he and the billion Indian fans would not care less about the miss, as India have won the SAFF Championship for the record ninth time. Up next are the is Thailand's King's Cup in September, followed by Malaysia's Merdeka Tournament in October.
Till then, rejoice.