Football
SAFF Championship: India beats Lebanon, qualifies for the finals - Highlights
India beats Lebanon in the penalty shootout, qualifies for the second consecutive SAFF Championship finals.
FILE PHOTO: Sunil Chhetri in action against Lebanon in 2023. (Photo credit: AIFF)
Right from the start, Lebanon dominated the match, taking control of the game and quickly securing an early lead. They launched several attacks and came close to scoring twice within the first 10 minutes.
However, India managed to regain their composure and slowly regained momentum as the game progressed. After the initial fifteen minutes, India started to assert their attacking power, putting pressure on the Lebanese defense.
The game remained goalless after regulation time, forcing the match into extra time. Both teams had opportunities to score, but were unable to find the back of the net.
The match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. Sunil Chhetri set the tone by confidently converting India's first penalty, while Lebanon missed their opening shot. India continued their clinical performance from the spot, with Udanta Singh, Mahesh Naorem, and Anwar Ali all successfully converting their penalties.
Although Lebanon managed to convert two penalties after Gurpreet Sandhu saving the first, their hopes were dashed when Matar failed to score their fourth spot-kick. With this miss, India secured their victory and advanced to the finals of the SAFF Championship for the second consecutive time.
India will now face Kuwait in the finals of the SAFF Championship as they strive to defend the title.
As it happened:
Live Updates
- 1 July 2023 2:19 PM GMT
16' OFFSIDE!
That was the best chance India had so far. Sunil Chhetri gives a through pass to Jeakson Singh on the right wing, Sahal is free on the left. Jeakson passes it to Sahal, Sahal shoots it wide even though it was an open net. However the flag is up.
- 1 July 2023 2:11 PM GMT
9' Mehtab picks up an early booking!
Not a good sign. Mehtab fouls Maatouk close to the sidelines, with no other centrebacks on the bench getting a very early yellow card isn't a good sign.
- 1 July 2023 2:08 PM GMT
5' India under pressure!
Lebanon are piling up pressure from the first minute. Captain Maatouk has been a threat in the box. India barely getting a sniff of the ball.
- 1 July 2023 1:46 PM GMT
Kuwait has qualified for the finals!
Kuwait defeated Bangladesh by a solitary extra-time goal to reach the final of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship. Abdullah Albloushi scored in the extra time.
- 1 July 2023 1:22 PM GMT
Lebanon XI!
Starting 11: Mehdi Khalil, Hassan Maatouk, Mahdi Zein, Hussein Zein, Ali Markabawi, Hasan Srour, George Felix Melki, Nader Matar, Mouhammed Ali Dhaini, Walid Shour,Zein Al Abidine Farran.
Substitutes: Abdul Razzak Dakramanji, Maxime Aoun, Mohamad Sadek, Karim Darwich, Ali Al Haj, Khalil Bader, Ali Shaitou, Hassan Kourani, Ali Sabeh, Ali Tneich, Antoine Knaier Aldouaihy.
