India vs Lebanon SAFF Championship 2023 Updates: India Win On Penalties
India vs Lebanon SAFF Championship 2023 Updates: India defeated Lebanon 4-2 on penalties.
advertisement
India defeated Lebanon in the semi-final of SAFF Championship 2023.
The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes.
India secured a 4-2 win in the penalty shootout.
All of India's penalty takers scored, with goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu making an excellent save.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
India vs Lebanon Live: Momentum Favours India
FIFA updated the men's international team rankings right in time for the second semi-final of SAFF Championship 2023, as according to the latest standings, India will start as favourites against Lebanon – in synchronisation with their current form.
Under Igor Stimac's guidance, the Blue Tigers have played commendable football, wherein they have both produced encouraging results, but perhaps most importantly, have also taken the attack to the opposition, ditching the defence-first approach of yesteryears.
They won all of their three group-stage fixtures, beating Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives in the process. India, on the contrary, secured seven points from their group-stage campaign, wherein they defeated Pakistan and Nepal quite comfortably, but were held to a stalemate by Kuwait.
India vs Lebanon Live: India Starting XI
With head coach Igor Stimac suspended, following his red card in the last match against Kuwait, Mahesh Gawli will be marshalling the Indian troops in this fixture.
The hosts have reverted to their preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, in a starting XI that has offered a few surprises. Subhasish Bose has been preferred for the left-back role ahead of Akash Mishra, whilst an in-form Naorem Mahesh Singh has been left on the bench, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant winger Ashique Kuruniyan handed a start.
India Starting XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Pritam Kotal, Anwar Ali, Mehtab Singh, Subhasish Bose; Anirudh Thapa, Jeakson Singh; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sahal Abdul Samad, Ashique Kuruniyan; Sunil Chhetri.
India vs Lebanon Live: Lebanon Starting XI
Lebanon's Serbian head coach, Aleksander Ilic has named a fairly attacking starting XI for the final. Youngster Zein Farran has been preferred ahead of his Ahed teammate Karim Darwich. In defence, Maxime Aoun has missed out, with Ilic option for the more experienced option in Felix Melki.
India Starting XI: Mahdi Khalil; Hussein Zein, Walid Chour, Felix Melki, Mahdi Zein; Mohamad Ali Dhani, Nader Matar, Hassan Srour; Zein Farran, Ali Markabawi, Hassan Maatouk.
India vs Lebanon Live: Kick-Off!
The players are on the field. The occasion can't be bigger than it already is. Bengaluru is ready, and so are the two teams.
Let's play.
India vs Lebanon Live: MISS!
EARLY SCARE!
This has been a fantastic start from the Lebanese players, and visibly, the Indian players are a bit rattled here. Midfielder Nader Matar has a chance on the left flank, but he blasts his shot over Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
India vs Lebanon Live: Lebanon On Top
Excellent start from Lebanon!
The trio of Hassan Maatouk, Nader Matar and Mahdi Zein are wreaking havoc in the Indian defence, with right-back Pritam Kotal hardly getting a second to catch his breath. Matar had another go at goal, but yet again, he could not find target.
India vs Lebanon Live: Heroic From Gurpreet
8' WHAT. A. SAVE.
Take a bow, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Indian shot-stopper is solitarily responsible for keeping the scoreline 0-0. Zein Farran almost proved why he has been handed a start, but Gurpreet's save denies what would have been his maiden international goal.
India vs Lebanon Live: Mehtab Sees Yellow
10' First booking of the night.
The hosts might not have expected Lebanon to have this effervescent a start. The defenders are caught cold-footed, with centre-back Mehtab Singh being the first player to be booked.
India vs Lebanon Live: Rare Indian Chance
11' Against the run of play.
India have an opportunity after a few minutes of intense pressure, as Lallianzuala Chhangte beats his marker before embarking on a darting run down the right flank. However, his shot is directed straight at the Lebanese goalkeeper, Mahdi Khalil.
India vs Lebanon Live: Kuruniyan Has a Go
14' Ashique Kuruniyan has an audacious pop from a long way out, but he lacked precision big time, with the ball perhaps ending up on row Z.
India vs Lebanon Live: Huge Miss
17' MISSED!
This was the best chance of the game so far, as a player in red is dispossessed in midfield. Skipper Sunil Chhetri makes a run before finding Jeakson Singh at the edge of the box, and the midfielder should have went for goal himself. Instead, he tried to find his Kerala Blasters teammate Sahal Abdul Samad with a pass, but the latter was standing in an off-side position.
India vs Lebanon Live: Another Chance Not Converted
20' Another miss.
Anirudh Thapa launches a precise cross from deep, and it finds Pritam Kotal on the right flank. However, the vastly experienced campaigner could not guide his header on target.
There has been a shift in momentum, with India gradually, but certainly, growing into the occasion.
India vs Lebanon Live: Difficult Chance
24' Spot-kick.
India have a chance to open the scoring from a free-kick, with Thapa launching another precise delivery. However, like Kotal, his Mohun Bagan Super Giant teammate Subhasish Bose could not keep his header on target either.
India vs Lebanon Live: Gurpreet On The Money, Again
31' Calm and composed keeping.
Lebanon have a free-kick in a decent position on the left-flank, and Hassan Maatouk's curling delivery looks menacing, but Gurpreet comes to India's rescue again as he parries the attempt away.
India vs Lebanon Live: Free-Kick
37' Free-kick in a dangerous position for India, after left-back Subhasish Bose is brought down just outside the box on the left flank.
Meanwhile, cameras show Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer enjoying the match.
India vs Lebanon Live: No Change in Scoreline
39' The free-kick goes unutilised, as the Lebanese defenders gather in huge numbers to clear all possible dangers.
Amid all these, Lebanon's coach Aleksander Ilic gets yellow-carded.
India vs Lebanon Live: Sandhu Saves India Again
42' SPECTACULAR. STUNNING. SUBLIME.
We will run out of adjectives for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and we're not even half-way into the game. Yet another free-kick on the left-flank for Lebanon, and skipper Hassan Maatouk comes up with another great effort, only to be denied by Gurpreet.
Still 0-0, but could easily have been 2-0 for India, had it not been for the shot-stopper.
India vs Lebanon Live: Riveting Rendition of Bande Mataram
45+2' GOOSEBUMPS!
Forget what's happening in the game (not much, at this point). At the stands, there's a riveting rendition of Bande Mataram, sung by a few thousand voices in unison. Can it act as a spring in the steps of Indian footballers?
India vs Lebanon Live: Goalless at Break
HALF-TIME.
Phew. What a half of football this has been. The game had ebbed and flowed, with both teams creating chances. Certainly, Lebanon will feel gutted that they could not take the lead, with Gurpreet being India's saviour on multiple occasions. On the contrary, however, could Jeakson have done better when he was through on goal?
Second half coming up in 15 minutes. We couldn't have asked for a better semi-final.
India vs Lebanon Live: Calm Resumption
48' Three minutes into the second half, and there isn't much to report on. Seems like an anomaly, consider how the game has played out so far.
India vs Lebanon Live: Scattered Chances
54' A few scattered opportunities for India, mostly from the left-flank, but we are yet to see a clear-cut opening in the second half.
Meanwhile, seeing his players getting dominated, Ilic has made a change with Karim Darwich replacing Ali Markabawi.
India vs Lebanon Live: First Change For India
58' Now, Mahesh Gawli has decided to inject fresh legs in his team. Pritam Kotal, who did look a tad out of pace in this fixture, is being replaced by Hyderabad FC's Nikhil Poojary.
India vs Lebanon Live: Game Picking Up Pace
59' Now then, we might be re-entering the frantic phase.
Both teams squander chances, with the first opportunity falling to Lebanon. A long ball from Zein Hussein finds Nader Matar unmarked, but the winger drags his shot wide. A few seconds later, Lallianzuala Chhangte's attempt is saved by Khalil.
India vs Lebanon Live: Big Miss From Darwich
61' BIG MISS!
Karim Darwich could have emerged as the quintessential super sub for the Cedars, but it wasn't to be. A cross from the left flank found the Ahed attacker inside the box, but his attempt is saved by Gurpreet again.
India vs Lebanon Live: Wayward
67' Enthusiastic, but wayward attempt from Zein Farran. The young winger darts down the right flank and beats a few players in blue as if they weren't there, but at the crucial moment, he drags his shot high and wide.
I'm ringing home, in case it landed on my terrace.
India vs Lebanon Live: More Changes for India
74' Time for more tweaks in the Indian team, as we are now in the last quarter of the game. Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad make way for Rohit Kumar and Naorem Mahesh Singh.
India vs Lebanon Live: Scrappy
80' This is now a test of stamina and composure, more than anything else. Both sets of players are struggling not to lose possession, as another rendition of Bande Mataram rings around the Sree Kanteerava.
India vs Lebanon Live: Maatouk Misses
83' Another miss from the Lebanese skipper.
A pass from Zein Farran found Hassan Maatouk in space inside the penalty box, but he skies his attempt. Meanwhile, there's a huge inquest in the Indian backline, with both Akash Mishra and Mehtab Singh wondering how Maatouk got inside the box with no impediments whatsoever.
India vs Lebanon Live: India Nearly Score
87' ALMOST!
An Indian flag-kick finds Anwar Ali inside the box, whose header clips the bar and Khalil's fingertips, before going out.
India vs Lebanon Live: India On The Charge
90' Big interception.
The Indians are pushing for a winner here, and Lebanon would be rather happy to take the game to extra time. A cross from Lallianzuala Chhangte nearly found Sunil Chhetri at the far post, but George Felix Melki comes up with a huge interception.
India vs Lebanon Live: Stalemate
90+6' END OF NORMAL TIME.
That's the end of the second half, and the teams can't be separated. After what was a promising start to the game from Lebanon, India have picked up pace and are now looking the likelier of the two sides to have the last laugh.
30 minutes of extra time coming up.
India vs Lebanon Live: Chhetri Denied by Khalil
94' SAVE!
After the spectacular saves from Gurpreet earlier, Mahdi Khalil has come up trumps for his team as well. Sunil Chhetri takes a shot from outside the box, and it could have been an exemplary goal, had it not been for the acrobatic save from the 31-year-old.
India vs Lebanon Live: Huge Miss
96' WHAT A MISS!
The Indian skipper has not put a foot wrong in this game, as well as the skipper, but he could not provide his team with the lead in a crucial juncture. An excellent run from Udanta Singh is followed by a great pass into the box, but despite having an entire goal gaping, Chhetri could not get both the desired direction, and the connection.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's assistant coach has been handed a red card. Igor Stimac sees the funny side of it from the stands.
We have had more sending offs in this game than goals, by the way.
India vs Lebanon Live: So, So Close
102' How is it still 0-0?
One-way attack from the relentless Indians, and yet another opportunity goes begging. After Lallianzuala Chhangte's initial attempt from the corner was cleared away, the rebound fell to him and he recycled the attack, only for the second cross to evade Mehtab Singh by a hair's width.
India vs Lebanon Live: Difficult Chance
104' Same outcome.
Another chance for India, and another wasted opportunity. This time, Akash Mishra launches a cross from the left flank and finds Chhetri inside the box, but the Indian skipper's header is not on target.
India vs Lebanon Live: Last 15 Minutes Coming Up
105+3' End of first half of extra time.
Frantic. Frenzied. Football.
Pour a glass of water. Take a deep breath. More action coming up.
India vs Lebanon Live: Chance For Lebanon
109' Wake-up call.
Lebanon break on a counter, with acres of space down the left flank. Winger Khalil Bader pulls the trigger and nearly finds the far corner, but year again, 'nearly' is the key word.
Still 0-0.
India vs Lebanon Live: Chance, After Chance, After Chance
112' Almost an own goal. Then almost a Lebanon goal. Then almost a goal for India.
What is going on here?
Firstly, a Naorem Mahesh Singh cross caught the trailing leg of George Felix Melki and nearly resulted in an own goal. Then, Lebanon broke on a counter attack again, but could not breach the Indian backline.
The sequence ended with scintillating footwork from Udanta, but Khalil comes up with another big save.
India vs Lebanon Live: Another Save From Lebanon GK
120' SAVE!
Mahdi Khalil has been immense for Lebanon. Lallianzuala Chhangte finds himself in space down the left flank and he goes for glory, but the Al-Faisaly goalkeeper comes up with yet another save, this time with his leg.
Meanwhile, there is a substitution from Ilic. That will be Khalil's last contribution, as he is replaced by the Cedars' penalty shootout specialist, Ali Sabeh.
India vs Lebanon Live: Penalties!
120+3' On to the shootouts.
There we go. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Ali Sabeh and the other twenty players of the pitch – one of them will etch his name in books of history. Someone will also end up as the unluckiest of the lot.
Heroes, villains and all of that sort, to be made very soon.
India vs Lebanon Live: ENDGAME
Penalties. India to take first.
IND 1-0 LBN. Sunil Chhetri scores.
IND 1-0 LBN. Hassan Maatouk misses. Save from Gurpreet.
SREE KANTEERAVA ERUPTS IN JUBILATION!
IND 2-0 LBN. Anwar Ali scores.
IND 2-1 LBN. Walid Shour scores.
IND 3-1 LBN. Naorem Mahesh Singh scores.
IND 3-2 LBN. Omar Sadek scores.
IND 4-2 LBN. Udanta Singh scores.
IND 4-2 LBN. Khalil Bader fires high.
INDIA WIN!
India vs Lebanon Live: Euphoric Eruption in Bengaluru
INDIA ARE INTO THE FINALS!
What an exemplary display of character and composure this has been from the Blue Tigers. When the chips were down, with Lebanon taking the game to the penalties, Sunil Chhetri and his teammates came up trumps.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu deserves a special mention. Had it not been for his consecutive saves early on in the game, it could have been curtains for the hosts before the match even started.
The defence also proved to be unbreachable on the face of numerous Lebanese counter-attacks, and whilst the attackers could not come up with goals in 120 minutes of frantic footballing action, they wouldn't care less about it now.
It has been a pleasure to watch what was a free-flowing, thoroughly enthralling and comprehensively compelling game of football, and we hope you enjoyed the coverage too.
The final awaits. 4 July, 7:30pm, up against Kuwait. Mark your calendars. Go drop the leave application now.
Till then, take care.