SAFF Championship: India beat Lebanon 4-2 in penalty shoot-out to reach final

Bangalore (Uttam Hindu News): Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved the penalty shoot-out as India beat Lebanon 4-4 in the tie-break after a goalless draw in extra time in the semi-final match of the SAFF Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday. Defeated by 2.

The win sealed the hosts a place in the summit clash of the competition, where they will take on Kuwait.

India will defend their SAFF Championship title against Kuwait at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday.

Gurpreet saved the first penalty for Lebanon by Matouk, giving the Indian penalty takers the confidence to put their spot-kicks in the back of the net. Chhetri, Anwar, Mahesh and Udanta converted their first four penalties for India, while Walid Shoor and Mohamed Sadeq scored for Lebanon. Khaleel Badar sent in the fourth and last penalty stand for Lebanon, helping India reach the final.

Lebanon and India have faced each other twice in the Intercontinental Cup last month, with India keeping clean sheets twice and winning one tie. The Seedrs started the SAFF Championship semi-finals on a high note.

Also missing for India were striker Rahim Ali and head coach Igor Stimac, both of whom were sent off in their last match against Kuwait.

Both teams created many chances but could not score.

After being played into the six-yard box, Nader Matar had a chance to give Lebanon the lead in the first minute. However, his volley lacked control and flew off into the Bengaluru night.

Zain Al Abideen Faran had another chance in the opening exchange, but India’s keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood in Lebanon’s way this time.

Facing an early storm, India looked to change the tempo of the game as they tried to keep the ball to themselves and slow down the pace. Mahtab earned an early booking as he tried to keep out Hassan Matouk.

The Blue Tigers soon changed their system, pushing Jackson Singh back between the two centre-backs while in possession. More importantly, they really clamped down on Lebanon when they were out of possession and put pressure from the forward under captain Sunil Chhetri.

India came close to taking the lead three minutes from time when a dangerous corner by Mahesh Naorem hit Zain over the head and the ball hit the woodwork. Udanta Singh soon replaced Ashiq Kuruniyan in injury time before the referee blew the long whistle, which meant both teams would have another 30 minutes to decide the matter.

Sunil Chhetri, 38, forced his way into the Lebanon box at the start of extra time, but Lebanon keeper Khaleel was on hand to keep him out. A few minutes later Udanta’s cross hit the cross-bar with the Indian captain hitting the crossbar, with the scores still standing.

The situation changed in the second half of extra time and Lebanon got the lead over India. Substitute Khaleel Badr had a flick from long range, sending his effort wide. Matouk was also in a dangerous position sending in a cross from the right, but Mehtab Singh was on hand to clear it.

However, India slowly started making a comeback and Rohit launched a brilliant counter-attack, finding Udanta Lebanon in the box. He sold a few stepovers before running out of real estate, as Lebanese keeper Khaleel came off his line to press the ball.

Fearing an imminent penalty shootout, Lebanon called on substitute goalkeeper Ali Sabeh in place of Mehdi Khalil in injury time of extra time. Both teams soon ran out of time as the referee blew his whistle to send the match into a dreaded penalty shootout which eventually saw India win the match thanks to heroics from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.