The Indian men's football team continues to shine as they booked their place in the final of the SAFF Championship 2023 with a thrilling victory over Lebanon. In a tightly contested match that remained goalless after more than 120 minutes of play, India emerged triumphant, winning 4-2 on penalties at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Both teams displayed strong defensive performances, with neither able to break the deadlock in regulation time. As the match went into a penalty shootout, it was India who held their nerve, converting their spot-kicks with precision. Sunil Chhetri, Anwar Ali, Naoren Mahesh Singh, and Udanta Singh all found the back of the net from the penalty spot, sealing India's win. Lebanon, on the other hand, faltered with their penalties, with captain Hassan Maatouk's shot saved by India's goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Khalik Bader missing the target.
India's triumph in this match signifies the second occasion in just two weeks that they have conquered Lebanon, following their previous 2-0 victory in the Intercontinental Cup final. The Indian team will now face Kuwait in the SAFF Championship final, following Kuwait's 1-0 victory over Bangladesh in the other semifinal.
India made several changes to their lineup from their previous match, with Naoren Mahesh Singh and Akash Mishra being benched. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu started in goal, supported by Ashique Kuruniyan, Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal, and Mehtab Singh. Notably, Sandesh Jhingan was absent due to suspension, and head coach Igor Stimac served a two-match ban, watching from the stands.
Lebanon started the match strongly, creating a few promising opportunities in the early stages. However, India grew into the game and came close to scoring when Sunil Chhetri set up Jeakson Singh, who unfortunately passed the ball to Sahal Abdul Samad, who was in an offside position. Lebanon's Maatouk also threatened with a free-kick, but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a crucial save to keep the scores level.
The second half proved to be a scrappy affair, with Lebanon missing a golden chance as Maatouk's shot failed to hit the target. India had their share of half-chances but couldn't find the breakthrough.
In extra time, India raised their intensity, particularly with the introduction of Naoren Mahesh Singh and Udanta Singh, which injected more attacking flair into their play. Sunil Chhetri had a couple of opportunities but was not able to make it.
Lebanon struggled to create clear-cut chances in extra time, and just before the penalty shootout, they made a goalkeeper change, bringing in Ali Sabeh for Mehdi Khalil. However, the decision didn't pay off as India converted all their penalties flawlessly. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's superb save provided India with the advantage, and Bader's miss sealed Lebanon's fate.
After the win, India's assistant coach Mahesh Gawli praised the team, saying they did a fantastic job despite a slow start. Gawli praised the players for their high energy and mentioned that if they had scored more of their chances, the final result would have been even more impressive.
India's impressive run in the SAFF Championship continues, and they now have a golden opportunity to lift back-to-back trophies. Fans eagerly await the final clash against Kuwait, where India will aim to showcase their skill and determination once again.