Team India secured their 9th SAFF Championship title by defeating Kuwait in a thrilling penalty shootout on Tuesday, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The enthusiastic crowd witnessed one of India’s most remarkable performances in recent times and celebrated the victory by singing the national anthem, Vande Mataram, while the Indian captain, Sunil Chhetri, was joyfully carried on his teammates’ shoulders. Check out the trending video below.
The highly anticipated final of the championship ended in a 1-1 draw at full time, and even extra time failed to produce a winner, leading to a thrilling shootout to determine the ultimate victor. After both teams successfully converted five penalties each, resulting in a 4-4 tie, the sudden death rule was enforced. India’s Mahesh Singh scored the subsequent penalty, while goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a remarkable save, denying Kuwait’s Khaled Hajiah and sparking jubilation among the home crowd.
India fell behind early when Shabib Al Khaldi of Kuwait scored in the 14th minute. However, India quickly responded with a goal from Lalianzuala Chhangte, who was named the country’s senior player of the year. Chhangte’s equalizer in the 38th minute was crucial as it led the game into extra time and eventually penalties, which India successfully converted.
The Indian team’s head coach, Igor Stimac, who had received a touchline ban due to a red card in the final group game against the same opponents, has brought about a revolution in the way the game is played. The team’s title win reflects the extensive efforts made by the Indian football team on and off the field, demonstrating that the game is progressing in the right direction.
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