INDIA WINS SAFF CHAMPIONSHIPS! Beats Kuwait 5-4 in penalty shootout to win title for 9th time

India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final: India beat Kuwait 5-4 in the penalty shootout to win SAFF Championships title for the ninth time on Tuesday. This is India's ninth trophy in 14 editions of the SAFF Championship.

Both teams were equally matched for each other during the match and the penalties were the only decisive moment of the game.

Kuwait took the lead in the first half of the match with a goal by Shabib Al Khaldi in the 14th minute, but India equalized with a Lallianzuala Chhangte goal in the 38th minute. 

In the end, India won it in penalties with a save from their goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu who denied Kuwait's Khalid El Ebrahim from the spot.

EARLIER: With eight Championships already under their belt in 13 editions, the Indian Football Team will be looking forward to taking on mighty Kuwait in the summit clash of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship. The match is scheduled to be played n Tuesday, July 4, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore at 7:30 PM (IST).

Team India, who are the defending champions of the SAFF Championship, had an unbeaten run throughout their whole campaign and are in excellent form as they go into the finals. India defeated Nepal 3-0 in the SAFF final in 2021 to get their hands on their eighth SAFF title in the Maldives.

India had a great start in the tournament as they defeated Pakistan 4-0 in the first match with India's "Captain Fantastic" Sunil Chettri scoring a hat trick. In the next match, India faced Nepal for the next match in the group stage, and they cruised past The Gorkhalis with a 2-0 win with Chettri and Mahesh Singh on the scoreboard. 

India will be facing Kuwait for the second time in the tournament, as they have already played each other in the group stages earlier. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with a goal coming from Captain Sunil Chettri in the stoppage time of the first half. India dominated the whole match, but luck favoured Kuwait as India conceded an own goal in the 90+2 minutes from a deflection off defender Anwar Ali.

India faced Lebanon in the Semi-finals, and it was said to be a rematch of the recently-held Intercontinental Cup final. The Blue Tigers both times got the upper hand, as they defeated the Cedars 2-0 in the Intercontinental Cup final and beat them 4-2 on penalties in the semis. In both the matches, India dominated and played better than the opposition.

With such form and an already hyped squad, fans can hope for the best from the Blue Tigers as they go into the Finals.

India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final Live Streaming: When and Where will the match take place?

The match will take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru today, July 4.

India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final Live Streaming: Match Timings

The match will start at 7:30 PM (IST).

India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final Live Streaming: Where will the SAFF Championship 2023 be broadcast on TV?

Football fans can watch India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final Live on Star Sports Network.

India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final: Live Streaming App

Fans can watch India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final Live stream on the Fancode app and website.

India vs Kuwait SAFF 2023 Final Live Streaming: Probable Playing 11

India Squad: The Blue Tigers will preferably have a 4-2-3-1 formation with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu between the sticks and a back four of Nikhil Poojary, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, and Akash Mishra. The duo of Jeakson Singh and Anirudh Thapa will act as the double pivot, with Sahal Abdul Samad as the central midfielder. Naorem Mahesh Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte will be playing on the wings, with Sunil Chhetri as the main striker. 

Manager: Igor Štimac.

Kuwait Squad: Kuwait will supposedly play in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Abdulrahman Kameel as the goalkeeper and a back four of Abdullah Al Baloushi, Khalid El Ebrahim, Hasan Al Enezi, and Hamad Al Qallaf. Fawaz Al Otaibi, Hamad Al Harbi, and Ali Khalaf will form the midfield trio, with Eid Naser Al Rashedi and Mubarak Al Faneni on the wings. Shabib Al Khaldi will be the lone striker upfront.

Manager: Rui Bento

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