‘Kya badiya atmosphere tha jeet ke baad’ – Fans react as Sunil Chhetri guides India to another SAFF Championship
At the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday, India defeated Kuwait on penalties by a score of 5-4 in the championship game of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). The summit encounter concluded in a 1-1 draw during normal time, forcing both teams’ players to outwit the opposition on penalty kicks for the coveted victory.
The score remained 4-4 after a total of five penalty kicks, thus the sudden death system came into the picture. Sandhu stopped Kuwait skipper Khaled Hajiah’s shot after Mahesh Naorem scored, setting off a raucous celebration among the home crowd and in India dugout.
Chhangte levels the score for India
Lallianzuala Chhangte tied the score in the 39th minute of regulation time after Shabaib Al Khaldi provided Kuwait with an early advantage in the 14th minute. Sunil Chhetri, the team’s captain, Sandesh Jhingan, Chhangte, Subhasish Bose, and Mahesh all scored goals for India, but Udanta Singh missed.
Abdullah Al Bloushi was set free on the left wing by Mobarak Al Faneeni in the fourteenth minute of play. With an excellent cross into the box from Al Bloushi, Shabaib Al Khaldi was able to beat India goalkeeper Sandhu and give Kuwait a 1-0 lead. Within a minute, India had a chance to tie the game, but Kuwaiti goalkeeper Abdul Rahman stopped Chhangte’s long-range shot.
Sahal Abdul Samad, as well as captain Chhetri, exchanged beautiful passes, and in the 39th minute, the latter found an unattended Chhangte within the box. Chhangte, the tenacious No. 12 for India, easily defeated Abdul Rahman to score the equaliser.
India, the defending champion, and Kuwait also drew 1-1 in their final group game. This was India’s second victory in a penalty shootout. After defeating Lebanon 4-2 in a penalty shootout during the semifinal on July 1, they advanced to Tuesday’s summit match. In the shootout at the time, Sandhu had also produced a significant stop. Chhangte had a great game on the pitch and was crowned the AIFF Men’s Player of the Year on Tuesday following the game.
Fans react as Sunil Chhetri guides India to another SAFF Championship:
Magnificent saves in the Penalty shootout.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu – he is the hero of India! pic.twitter.com/g5fyizJmay
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 4, 2023
What a match! Atleast they don't disappoint us in Knockouts like our cricket team. We should appreciate the Football team.
— Shahzeb Khan (@theshahzebkhan) July 4, 2023
He's better than de gea 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
— A. (@_Cover_Drive) July 4, 2023
Nationwide coverage of Indian football
India playing attractive football
Unreal atmospheres in the stadiums pic.twitter.com/t7hNfx9rQF— Soujatya (@soujatya365) July 4, 2023
Better than Kepa, De gea,Ter stegen
— Suryansh (@suryansh09__) July 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/balchodbkl/status/1676276240049905670?s=20
As I said earlier we have PR Sreejesh in Hockey and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in Football ! We are lucky to have them 🙇
— Aryan (@TheAryanBansal) July 4, 2023
Good to see everyone is supporting our football team
— Asha mishra (@ashamis20918009) July 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/firefire0045/status/1676276406588948480?s=20
Atleast we are winning somewhere 🙂😭
— Ashish 💗 (@Cricoholic_2191) July 4, 2023
Goalkeepere and wicketkeepers winning matches for India❤️
He is inspired by dhomi🥹❤️— Dawood Ibrahim (@akaay_Kohli15) July 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/BardOfBread/status/1676276418534318085?s=20
The wall of Indian football team ♥️
— Kumar Shivam (@KumarSh90881547) July 4, 2023
Finally something about INDIAN NT
— rishikesh (@RishikeshChan20) July 4, 2023
What a coincidence. World Cup winning Goal keeper is in India and here also keeper won the championship for us. Goal(keepers) are gold.
— Barkha Joshi (@bindasbarkha) July 4, 2023
