India Clinches SAFF Championship 9th Time, Defeats Kuwait 5-4 in Penalty Shootout

Bengaluru: India beat Kuwait 5-4 in the penalty shootout to win the SAFF Championship title for the ninth time on Tuesday night. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was the star of this win.

In the 14^th minute of regulation time, Shabaib Al Khaldi of Kuwait scored a goal. India’s Lallianzuala Chhangte equalised it in the 39th minute.

The match remained 1-1 till the end. India and Kuwait had also played out a 1-1 draw in their last group match. India had beaten Lebanon 4-2 in the penalty shootout in the semifinals.

In the penalty shootout, captain Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan, Chhangte, Subasish Bose and Mahesh Naorem scored goals fro India while Udanta Singh missed.