Published 22:58 IST, July 4th 2023
SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India stun Kuwait, lift record 9th title
India defeated Kuwait in the final of SAFF Championship 2023 at the Sree Kanteerva Stadium, Bengaluru
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SAFF Championship 2023 Final: Suni Chhetri and Co. certainly will be feeling at the top of the world today. In the recently concluded SAFF Championship final, India outclassed Kuwait by 5-4 on penalty kicks. India have now lifted their 9th title
Ahead of the AFC Asian Cup next year, India added their 9th SAFF Championship title following their triumph in the Intercontinental Cup earlier this year. India failed to beat Kuwait in the earlier meeting in this tournament but this time Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made sure India don't falter in the final hurdle.
India vs Kuwait: As it happened
Kuwait had the first breakthrough as Al Khaldi drew the first blood to stun a packed Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. But Lallianzuala Chhangte opened up the scoring as he taps in from a Sahal Abdul Samad pass to send the crowd into madness. Both the teams worked hard to get the job done in the regulation time but even the extra time couldn't yield a result. Sunil Chhetri took the first penalty and converted with ease.
🇮🇳 INDIA are SAFF 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 for the 9️⃣th time! 💙
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 4, 2023
🏆 1993
🏆 1997
🏆 1999
🏆 2005
🏆 2009
🏆 2011
🏆 2015
🏆 2021
🏆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯#SAFFChampionship2023 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/3iLJQSeyWG
The match goes to penalty kicks
2⃣ Successful Penalty Shoouts in a row! INDIA 🇮🇳 ARE THE SAFF CHAMPIONS AGAIN! 🤩
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 4, 2023
KUW 1⃣-1️⃣ IND
🇰🇼: ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌
🇮🇳: ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅
📺 @FanCode & @ddsportschannel 📱#KUWIND ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/pmm0mT3gcA
After five rounds of penalty kicks the scoreline remained 4-4 and the sudden death rule was applied. Udanta Singh missed a spot kick for the home side while Mohammad Abdullah hit the bar for the visitors. Mahesh Naorem scored but a diving India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved Khaled Hajiah's shot to hand victory to the home side. Ahead of the AFC Asian Cup this will act as a big morale boost for the Blue Tigers.
(With inputs from PTI)
22:25 IST, July 4th 2023