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'Cricket me to ye moment nahi aane wala ab' - Fans react as India wins SAFF Championship 2023; beat Kuwait on penalties 

India defeated Kuwait in the final of the SAFF Championship 2023 to claim the title for the ninth time on Tuesday.

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Akshay
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India won SAFF Championship 2023

India won SAFF Championship 2023 (Source: Twitter)

India won SAFF Championship 2023 India won SAFF Championship 2023 (Source: Twitter)

India won the SAFF Championships for the ninth time after defeating Kuwait 5-4 on penalties. In a nail-biting contest at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday (July 4), goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's heroics lifted the hosts to victory. The summit clash saw the two teams draw 1-1 after 120 minutes and the stadium echoed the 'Vande Mataram' song after India won the shootout.

Kuwait provided an early scary moment for Indian supporters after taking the lead in the 14th minute. Full-back Abdullah Al Buloushi's cross was smashed into the net by striker Shabaib Al-Khaldi. A few minutes later, India had a chance to level the scoreline but captain Sunil Chhetri could not connect the ball well. Goalkeeper Abdulrahman Kameel stopped Lallianzuala Chhangte's shot, but he couldn't hold onto the ball, which then went to Chhetri.

However, Chhangte did not waste the next opportunity, scoring in the 38th minute thanks to Sahal Samad's brilliant cross. Kuwait midfielder Ahmed Al-Dhefiri failed to clear the ball, and Chhetri, who recovered it, delivered a great pass to Samad, who then set up Chhangte's crucial goal.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu - the hero of India!

The Blue Tigers had a chance to take the lead in the second half (62nd minute), but Chhangte failed to beat the goalkeeper. Kuwait counter-attacked in the final moments and despite coming close to the winner, Gurpreet Singh pulled off a brilliant save to deny the goal for visitors in stoppage time. Kuwait's Mahdi Dashti's throw was picked up by Abdullah Al Fahed, who blasted a shot into the bottom left corner that Gurpreet comfortably saved.

The game then proceeded to extra time when no team scored in the second half. Neither team scored in extra time and the game eventually went to a penalty shootout. The Indian skipper made no mistake smashing the first kick into the net, while Kuwait's Abdullah hit the crossbar to give India a 1-0 lead. The scoreline read 4-4 and when it was a sudden death, India’s Naorem Mahesh Singh smashed his effort in the top right corner to keep India's hopes alive. Gurpreet's brilliant save denied Kuwait's skipper Khalid El Ebrahim’s effort to win the championship for India.

Here's how fans reacted to India's SAFF Championship 2023 win: