India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu once again showcased his exceptional skills as he played a pivotal role in India's triumph in the SAFF Championship 2023. In a thrilling final against Kuwait at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India emerged victorious with a 5-4 penalty shootout win after the match ended in a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.
With the pressure mounting, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a remarkable one-handed save diving to his left, ensuring India's victory in the championship. This victory marks India's ninth SAFF Championship title, adding to their recent success in the Intercontinental Cup.
India made some changes to the starting lineup compared to their semifinal against Lebanon. The defensive line underwent significant alterations, with Nikhil Poojary, Akash Mishra, and Sandesh Jhingan replacing Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal, and Mehtab Singh. Initially, India struggled to find their rhythm and fell behind as Kuwait displayed impressive attacking prowess.
Kuwait took an early lead in the 14th minute through Shabaib Al-Khaldi, capitalizing on a well-executed attacking move initiated by Mohammad Abdullah. However, India gradually regained their composure and started to assert their dominance. Lallianzuala Chhangte scored the equalizer for India in the 38th minute, courtesy of an excellent assist from Sahal Abdul Samad, after a sublime pass from captain Sunil Chhetri.
The second half witnessed both teams creating opportunities but failing to convert them into goals. The match was fiercely contested, with physicality dominating the proceedings, leading to numerous yellow cards being shown. Kuwait players received seven of the ten yellow cards issued during the match.
India made tactical changes as the game progressed, bringing in Mahesh Singh and Udanta Singh. Unfortunately, Anwar Ali had to be substituted due to an injury, but his replacement, Mehtab Singh, seamlessly contributed to India's solid defense alongside Sandesh Jhingan. Jhingan's exceptional positioning and defensive skills thwarted any potential threats from Kuwait.
As the match approached its conclusion, Chhangte had a golden opportunity to secure victory for India in regular time, but his shot from inside the box went over the goalkeeper. With both teams exhausted after 30 minutes of extra time, the fate of the championship had to be decided through a penalty shootout, just as in India's previous match against Lebanon.
Once again, the spotlight fell on Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who had been the hero in the previous penalty shootout. This time, he had the chance to secure the championship for India. Captain Sunil Chhetri calmly converted his penalty, while Abdullah missed for Kuwait, providing India with an early advantage. Both Jhingan and Chhangte found the back of the net with confidence, but unfortunately, Udanta's shot missed its mark, resulting in a deadlock of 4-4 after both teams had taken five penalties each.
In the sudden death phase, Mahesh Singh successfully converted his penalty for India, putting them ahead. It was then up to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to once again showcase his brilliance. He saved the shot from Kuwait's captain, Abdulrahman Marzouq, securing India's victory in the SAFF Championship.
The crowd at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru witnessed a gripping final and celebrated the hard-fought win of Sunil Chhetri and his team. The victory highlighted the resilience and determination of the Indian team as they overcame challenges to emerge as champions.
In conclusion, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's heroics in goal played a crucial role in India's triumph in the SAFF Championship. The intense final against Kuwait, India's comeback from a goal down, and the elation of the crowd in Bengaluru marked a memorable moment in Indian football history.