The Indian senior men's football team continued their impressive run in the season and beat Kuwait in the finals to clinch their ninth SAFF Championship title at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday (July 4). The match went down to the penatly shootout after the teams stood unseparated at 1-1 after full time and the added 30 minutes of extra-time. Eventually though it was the Blue Tigers who came out on top beating their opponents 5-4 on penalties to emerge as the champions.
There were tensed moments in the match, especially for home fans, as India were trailing 0-1 when Shabib Al Khaldi's 14th minute goal helped Kuwait take the lead. However, the hosts found a way to equalise in the first half itself when Lallianzuala Chhangte found the back of the net in the 38th minute. In the big penalty shootout, it was India's goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu who ensured that the fans in Bengaluru do not have to go back disappointed as his decisive save in the penalty shootout meant India emerged as the champions.
Following India's victory, incredible scenes unfolded at the stadium. A packed Kanteerava Stadium began singing the famous AR Rahman's version of Vande Mataram in a moment which has been captured by cameras with videos all over social media. The clip might leave the fans emotional with visuals of India's triumph and the song at the backdrop weaving its magic.
Have a look at the viral video here:
Meanwhile, India's Manipuri midfielder Jeakson Singh appealed for peace and offered clarification after a few eyebrows had been raised as he turned up in the post-match celebrations putting his Meitei flag on.
"It was my Manipuri flag. I just wanted to tell Manipur and all of India to stay in peace and save Manipur. I want peace. It's been two months now and fighting is still going on. I just wanted to bring the government's and other people's attention to get peace, you know," he said after the match.