India vs Kuwait, SAFF Championship final Highlights: India wins 5-4 in penalties; Sunil Chhetri wins Golden Boot, Golden Ball

The Blue Tigers walk up to the stage with fans singing “Campeones, Campeones, Ole ole ole!”. It is their third trophy in three months and they are still unbeaten in 2023.

They get a prize money of USD 50,000 which is approximately 41 lakh rupees in INR.

Kuwait walks up for the runner-up medals. They came to India with hope and wil go back with the same, having delivered a brave performance and eventually losing to record winners of the competitons.

They get a prize money of USD 25000, which is approximately 20.5 lakhs.

• Nagendra Rao, the Sports Minister of Karnataka gets the token of appreciation on beahlf of the state for organising the tournament.

• Time for honouring the match officials: AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran gives away the edals to the match officials, starting with Match commissioner Mindu Dorji.

• Nepal wins the Fair Play Award for showing the greatest spirit of the game
• Best goalkeeper of the competition: Anisur Rehman - Bangladesh
• Golden Boot: Sunil Chhetri
• Golden Ball: Sunil Chhetri

India queues up for a guard of honour for Kuwait. The west-Asian side has been a fantastic visitor in its maiden SAFF Championship campaign and will go home with immense pride, forcing the match right to sudden death.

I’m so happy everyone chipped in. They are not an easy side to play against and I’m so happy that we ended that tournament like this.

All credit to the boys for not giving up after conceding the goal. I think that was the weakest point for us in the game. Kuwait just stuck to that goal and when it goes into penalties, anyone can win and today was ourt day.

Over 26,000 fans singing Vante Mataram at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium as India does its victory lap at a place that has celebrated, prayed and cheered with every heart in the country throughout the tournament.

The shootout will be taken in the southern end of the stadium, as was the case in India’s win against Lebanon in the semifinal.

• Sunil Chhetri steps up to take the first penalty. His strike rattles the net off the bar. (IND 1-0 KUW)
• Abdullah misses, hits the bar for Kuwait. (IND 1-0 KUW)

• Jhingan steps up for the second penalty and scores with ease, sending the goalkeeper the other side. Alotaibi sends Gurpreet the other side to score. (IND 2-1 KUW)

• Chhangte scores for India with ease. (IND 3-1 KUW)
• Aldhefeery scores for Kuwait. (IND 3-2 KUW)

• Udanta skies if over the net to give Kuwait a chance to make a comeback .(IND 3-2 KUW)
• Mahran steps up for Kuwait and scores, despite Gurpreet jumping the right way. (IND 3-3 KUW)

• Subhasish Bose find the net for India. (IND 4-3 KUW)
• Alkhaldi finds the bottom left corner to force it to sudden death. (IND 4-4 KUW)

• Mahesh Singh scores with ease for India. (IND 5-4 KUW)
• Hajiah, Kuwait’s captain, steps up for the next spot-kick. Gurpreet saves the shot to win in for India. (IND 5-4 KUW)

120 Minutes could not decide the winner as we enter the eventuality of a penalty shootout. India’s momentum from the Lebanon win, and its history in a final, 11 years ago would encourage the Blue Tigers here.

Rohit Kumar tries to get the ball in the final thiord but fouls Mahdi Dashti, ending that chance. Kuwait, on the other hand, goes for an attack and Akhaldi’s failes overhead kick sees Poojary get an injury.

Poojary makes a good run along the right flank, runs past the Kuwait defenders and crosses for Chhangte, who receives the ball with one touch and shoots with the other only to see it whistling over the goal.

Alrashidi brings down Jeakson in the Indian half and the hosts get a free-kick. The Viking Claps are back by the Indian fans as 26, 318 of them continue cheering at the stadium, hoping for India’s win.

Alfahad tries to get the ball off Rohit Kumar along the left flank and end up fouling him. The referee books him right away -- the sixth booking for the visitors.

First touch for Subhasish as India slowly builds from the back. India’s long ball is blocked by Kuwait, only for Udanta to get to it. But his pass for Chhetri is intercepted and cleared by Kuwait.

Akash Mishra is still struggling with fitness and India decides to replace him in the last moments, with Subhasish Bose replacing him.

Indian fans sing ‘Vande Mataram’ to cheer up the team which has roared and marched well into the final, with wins over Pakistan, Lebanon and Nepal. Five more minutes plus added time for India to defend its crown through normal progression of play.

Mahesh whips in a cross for Udanta in the box, from the left flank but Dashti gets to it first and clears it away.

Fatigue finally catching up with the players with Akash Mishra down, receving medical attention. Eventually, he is back on his feet.

Kuwait gets the second half underway with Abdullah still ready to create chances. His backheel for Alotaibi is struck well but Mahesh makes a timely interception to stop that for a corner. The corner is finally cleared by India.

105 Minutes plus injury time done and still no winner in this match. The next half will begin in a few minutes as the Blue Tigers hope for a breakthrough before entering the eventuality of a penalty shootout.

Last minute of extra-time first-half. The teams, just like the previous match, have remained extremely level in every department. Abdullah tries tha ast attempt of the half with a right-footed hit from outside the box, which is gobbled up by Gurpreet.

Akash Mishra threads a pass for Chhangte on the left but the ball rolls to Marzouq. India has inverted its wingers, with Chhangte now playing on the left and Udanta on the right.

Alkhaldi looks to have pulled a muscle and the referee indicates to the Kuwait bench to send their medical team. Meanwhile, Udanta and Chhetri, two BFC boys not so long ago, discuss how to breahc Kuwait’s defence

Mahesh Singh’s free-kick is headedaway by Kuwait. Meanwhile, Kuwait was forced to make a change with Alenezi pulling a muscle, with the player stretchered out of play.

Mahesh tries an attack along the right flank and is fouled by Kuwait. Udanta pairs with Mahesh for a set-piece attempt. Kuwait, however, bloke it for a corner kick.

Kuwait’s attempts from the set piece continue to remain toothless with Jhingan getting the ball out of the box and then Poojary clearing it out of danger.

Alfahad and Alrashidi combine along the right flank in similar fashion as that of India against Lebanon in the Intercontinental Cup final (first goal), with Alfahad providing the back-heel but Mahesh makes crucial block to keep Kuwait’s attacks at bay.

Dashti makes a run along the left flank but Jhingan stays put to ensure the ball goes out for a corner. The corner, to, is cleared by India in what has been a very good defensive display so far

Alotaini tries a diagonal pass from the left but Gurpreet intercepts and clears it away. Alrashidi tries another attack seconds later but is blocked by two orange shirts in the Indian penalty box.

India gets the ball rolling for the first half of exrta-time, with India trying to play from the back, early on.

After 90 minutes of this contest, there is still no clear winner here in Bengaluru as the match goes into extra-time now.

Chhangte’s cut back in the box is met by Udanta, who eventually loses control and goes to ground. No penalty there as Mazrouq takes the goal kick.

Mahesh gets the ball in the box, keeps it stuck to his feet and sets up Rohit, who crosses in the centre but no one is there to meet the cross.

Dashti’s throw-in, received by Abdullah is then hit with his right foot for the bottom-left corner. But a great saveby Gurpreet denies a certain winner for Kuwait

In: Udanta Singh, Out: Sahal Abdul Samad

Alkhaldi takes Kuwait’s free-kick which hits the Indian wall and the corner that follows has India getting a free-kick after Kuwait’s foul in the Indian penalty box.

Fawaz Alotaini and Mahdi Dashti step into the pitch as Kuwait looks to shift gears in the last quarter of the second half.

Sahal tries to draw defenders towards himself as he turns and threads a pass through. However, there are no India players to receive the ball.

India has tries to breach the right flank, with Poojary drawing defenders towards himself and releasing Chhangte. But Chhangte’s cross is intercepted and as India tries to get it back into the box, Chhetri is ruled off-side.

Kuwait gets a free-kick in the midfield with Hajia trying a shot from distance. However, Gurpreet can only see the captain’s strike glide off-target, away from danger.

Kuwait continues to march forward. Alkhaldi gets the ball to Alqallaf, who shoots with his left foot wide off-target.

Jhingan tries to intercept Kuwait’s long ball for Alkhaldi and ends up fouling him in the process. The visitors insist for a card for the defender who is already on a yellow card. But the referee resumes play after a verbal warning.

Rohit Kumar delivers a diagonal ball for Chhangte, who receives the ball and tries to cut to his left. However, he looses his footing and Kuwait gets the ball back in attack.

Mehtab gets a long ball for Chhetri, who gets the ball to the ground, but his pass to Mahesh and then to Chhangte is intercepted and cleared by Kuwait.

Rohit Kumar gets into a tussle for the ball Alenezi. He gets the ball but pushed the Kuwait No. 6 soon after, which leads to the midfielder getting a yellow card.

India’s pressure is forcing Kuwait to go with sideways passing and then delivery of long balls. That, too, is being contained by the offside traps. India looks in control but it is goals that win the match -- that is something it will have to look for now.

In: Mahesh Singh, Rohit Kumar, Out: Ashique Kuruniyan, Anirudh Thapa

India is pressing really hard with Akash bringing down Al Rashidi. The Blue Tigers are maintaining a 4-3-3 shape that is moving to a 5-3-2 shape, according to situations in the match.

In: Eid Alrashidi, Out: Al Faneeni

Wise decision by the visitors. Al Faneeni was lacking discipline and had been booked as well.

Alfaneeni tries to attack on the counter as he makes a run along the right flank but Ashique pulls his shirt to get a yellow card!

In the next minute, Sunil Chhetri is pulled back by Abdullah to get a booking as well. A yellow card for either side.

India tries to press Kuwait up the pitch and this time a push from behind by Chhangte on Aldhefeery gives the vistors a free-kick.

Mazrouq’a kick is headed back into their hal by Ashique and after a touch by Chhetri, Chhangte’s soft shot on target is saved by Mazrouq.

Thapa’s right-footed free-kick is easily taken control of by Mazrouq. He kicks the ball back into the Indian half.

Kuwait continues its physical style of play, with Alwallaf fouling Thapa just when the former Chennayin FC captain was marching into the final third. The referee books the Kuwait No. 15.

Poojary is beaten by Abdullah in the next chance where the No. 90 whips in a cross to the centre but Jhingan clears it our of play for corner kick. Aldhefeery takes the kick, which is cleared by Mehtab.

Kuwait tries to attack on the counter with Abdullah chasing the ball in teh box but Nikhil Poojary tracks back right on time to force a goal kick and avoid a chance for the visitors to strike.

Akash Mishra marauds down the left flank, beats two blue shirts but ends up fouling Albloushi to end that devlopment.

India is the most successful team in the SAF FChampionship with eight titles so far. Tonight, Chhante’s equaliser has rekindles India’s hopes in this game and it remains to be seen if the Blue Tigers can complete a comeback.

Abdullah side steps his marker, Thapa and gets the ball into the box for Alkhaldi in the penalty box. But Jhingan intercepts the pass to clear the ball out of play.

Thapa successfully completes his defensive duty, forcing Alqallaf to get the ball out of play. India starts an attack from the throw-in but ends with Chhetri being ruled off-side.

Gurpreet starts a build-up from the back, gets a pass to Mehtab, who manages to keep the ball to his feet and then gets it to Akash, who gives it to Chhetri. Chhetri’s overlaping pass ends with a Kuwait interception to clear the ball away.

Chhangte and Poojary combine for an attack on the right flank but Kuwait stops it with an India throw-in. Poojary crosses for Chhetri second later only for Mazrouq to pounce on it before Chhetri could reach it.

Aldhefeery gets the ball rolling for the second half as the contest remains level after 45 minutes of exciting football so far tonight.

A valiant equaliser by Chhangte, eight minutes after the half-hour mark, keeps India well into the game, level at 1-1. The team, however, saw one of its defenders, Anwar Ali, being carries out after an injury.

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Thapa’s corner kick is cleared by Kuwait, with the half almost done and dusted with a Mazrouq goal-kick.

The referee stops play after a rash challenge by Albloushi, who is booked eventually. Aldhefeery aggressively protests for the booking and gets a yelow card himself. Seconds later, the coach, Ruoi Bento, is booked for dissent.

Alqallaf is tripped by hhangte on the right flank and the Kuwaniot No. 15 goes down holding his ankle. The India fans continues their jeers as they feel they are wasting time.

Akash gets the ball to Kuriniyan on the left flabk as India tries to continues its attack through the wings but the ball is overshot for a goal kick to Kuwait.

Jeakson Singh concedes a free kick close to the box. Aldhefeery gets the ball into the box with a left-footed curler which is punched away by Gurpreet.

Redha Abujabarah is penalised for a late challenge to get the first booking for the visitors, to the applause and cheers of Indian fans at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Kuruniyan gets the ball after a failed clearance by Al Dhefeery. He turns and passes to Sunil Chhetri, who threads a pass through to Sahal who crosses for Chhangte to slot it in for the equaliser.

Kuwait continues to attack with long shots with AlKhaldi trying one from the right and then Abdullah tries another from the middle of the park. Both were off-target as Gurpreet remains unperturbed with the attempts.

Anwar Ali looks to have hurt himself in the process of defending the ball out of danger. He is stretchered out of play as Mehtab replaces him.

It’s all Kuwait at the moment in attack. Alfaneeni, after a block by India, crosses the ball in trhe centre but Jhingan clears it away

Alqalaf gets the ball off Albloushi, who tries to complete an overlap. But Alqalaf sidesteps Ashique to try a long diagonal cross in the centre of the box. Gurpreet, however, gets to the ball with ease

Jhingan tries to get his head to a free-kick but fould Alharbi in the process and the referee reaches for his card for the offence. First booking of the game.

In: Hamad Alharbi, Out: Hasan Alanezi

Alanezi is again the centre of attention with a push on Sahal. The Indian players surround the referee asking for a card but the referee is not interested at all. Stimac is seen, writing his notes for the assistant coach.

Ashique Kuruniyan is fouled by Ashique and the Kuwait No. 6 brushes his shoulder with the Indian winger before moving away. The refree gives a foul but nothingf more, despite Indian players appealing for a card.

Jeakson has dropped a bit low to play the role of an additional centre-bacl with India trying its best to not concede further. Meanwhile, Alenezi steals the ball off India with a key interception but Sahal fould him with alate challenge.

Al Dhefeery tries a long free-kick which confortably flies out of play without causing any trouble to India or its keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Kuwait tries another attack with an overlapping run in the midfield but Jeakso =n fouls AlKhaldi to stop play and gift the visitors with a free-kick.

Chhangte shoots from distance to force a save by Marzouq. But the goalkeeper fails to keep the ball in his gloves with Chhetri rushing in to strike on the follow-up. Hajiah, however, clears the ball away for Kuwait.

Kuwait attacks on the counter with Al Feneeni gets the ball moving with Albloushi crossing for Alkhaldi on a cut-back. Alkhaldi was unmarked in the box and he shoots into the net to give Kuwait an early lead.

Chhangte to Thapa and then to Anwar Ali, whose attempt to get the ball up front is quashed by Kuwait as he gets the ball back to Gurpreet.

Alkhaldi and Abdullah try to combine for a Kuwait attack but India intercepts the pass right in front of the final third to avoid another attempt by the visitors.

Abdullah tries a shot from distance, which hits Poojary to land no top of the net and out for a corner kick. The corner kick is cleared by India as well.

Kuwait is trying to get the ball through into the final third from the mid-block but India has an ornage shirt stuck to every forward to deny an early chance.

Abdullah and Alfaneeni attack against the run of play for Kuwait with the former crossing forthe latter in the Indian penalty box. But just after Alfaneeni gets the ball he is ruled off-side.

India tries an attack along the left flank, with Kuruniyan trying to get the ball into the final third for a cross but Kuwait gets it out of play for a corner kick. Thapa takes the corner kick which is punched away by Mazrouq.

India looking much more solid than the previous game with the return of Jhingan alongside Anwar as they clear a long ball from Kuwait to clear the danger.

India tries an attack through set-pieves with Akash crossing the ball for Chhetri, whose header is caught by Marzouq to end that attack.

India has started the match with the four-man defence. Kuwait tries to start an attack and Anirudh Thapa clears the ball away. Meanwhile Albloushi goes to ground after a challenge by Kuriniyan and the fans boo the visitors loudly.

The match begins with India setting the ball in action from right to left, in orange. Kuwait, in blue, starts from the other end.

Folded hands, silent prayers and banners cheering for India at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Wherever you are in the world, this is the place to be in if you are a fan of Indian Football. Cheers, banners and chants echo around the arena before kick-off!

The players walk out of the tunnel and line up for their national anthems. But before that, N. A. Harris, Karnataka Football chief, Kalyan Chaubey, the president of AIFF and Shaji Prabhakaran, the general secretary of the AIFF greet the players.

Kuwait has made six changes to the side that played Bangladesh in the semifinal, keeping India guessing for what is to come in the clash. Meanwhile, Indian fans are on their feet to cheer the hosts for this crucial game.

Last few minutes for the teams to brush up their routines practised for the match as both sides take the field in front of a sold out crowd. The game, for sure, is going to be a mouth watering one.

Akash Mishra was awarded the emerging player of the year award by the AIFF after the Annual General Meeting in Bengaluru. The former Hyderabad FC full-back has been a revelation in the Indian Super League and will hope to continue his form in this summit clash against Kuwait.

Bengaluru FC and India captain Sunil Chhetri received a hero’s welcome before the SAFF Championship final against Kuwait. Chhetri had scored the only goal for India in the previous clash between the two sides.

India has made three changes from the side that started against Lebanon in the semifinal. Akash Mishra and Nikhil Poojary return as full-backs and Sandesh Jhingan replaces Mehtab Singh after completing his supension in the previous game.

Indian Football fans sing Vande Mataram as Team India arrives for the SAFF Championship final against Kuwait in Bengaluru. India’s crown is at stake -- one which it secured two years ago against Nepal.

Abdulrahman Marzouq, Khaled Hajiah, Hasan Alanezi, Abdullah Albloushi, Sultan Alenezi, Ahmad Afnj Aldhefeery, Mohammad Abdullah, Shabaib Alkhaldi, Redha Abujabarah, Hamad Alqallaf, Mobarak Alfaneeni

India will look to clinch its ninth SAFF Championship title when it takes on Kuwait at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday.

The group-stage match between the sides last week had ended in 1-1 draw, a contest that was remembered more for the acrimony on the pitch than the quality of play. The expectation from the final is for the football to triumph.

Both teams come into the summit clash having played a truckload of games; it will be India’s ninth in under a month and Kuwait’s sixth in the same timespan. The players also had to toil hard in their respective semifinals, needing 120 minutes and more to beat Lebanon and Bangladesh. Fatigue can be one of the deciding factors.

But the chance to win silverware should lift the drooping shoulders, if any.

Kuwait hasn’t secured a trophy since the 2010 Arabian Gulf Cup and a success here will help overcome the pain of losing an entire generation of footballers when FIFA suspended the nation for more than two years (October 2015 to December 2017).

For India, a second winner’s medal in a one-month window will be a confidence-booster leading up to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

That it hasn’t lost a match in four outings against good West Asian sides in Lebanon and Kuwait, and conceded only through an own goal, are noteworthy.

Credit for that should go to India’s defence, which has kept nine clean-sheets from the last 10 matches. Even a rejigged backline, marshalled by goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, held firm against Lebanon.

There is thus a selection puzzle for the Indian think-tank to solve, but stand-in coach Mahesh Gawli’s exuded quiet confidence in Monday’s pre-match briefing, perhaps buttressed by the presence of some reasonably well-rested and quality defenders to choose from.

On his part, Kuwait coach Rui Bento was stoic and inexpressive. When he did speak, it was with pregnant pauses.

But towards the end he seemed irritable when a scribe suggested that his side was “too physical” in the previous game against India. There was even a veiled dig at the hosts, as he hoped that “nobody puts pressure on the referee.”

The rest of the cards will be laid on the table Tuesday evening.

-N. Sudarshan