Football, SAFF Championship semi-final blog: India beat Lebanon via penalty shootout to reach final

That’s it from us tonight! Do join us on Tuesday at 7.30 pm when India take on Kuwait in the final of the 2023 SAFF Championship. Goodnight!

FT, IND (4) 0-0 (2) LBN: It was a bruising encounter but India and Stimac happy to get the win in the end and set up a rematch with Kuwait in the final. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu showing once again why he is the best goalkeeper in the country right now with some superb saves in regulation time before keeping out Lebanese captain Hassan Maatouk’s attempt in the shootout.

Sunil Chhetri: It wasn’t easy. We aren’t thinking about the final now. We need to go back and rest. They are not an easy team to beat. We kept our composure and emerged victorious.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu: Great for us for the kind of work we have put in in the last five-six weeks. The boys have done well to not allow teams to penetrate our goal. Good job to keep a clean sheet for 120 minutes.

FT, IND (4) 0-0 (2) LBN: Igor Stimac is mobbed by fans for selfies in the stands. He is one happy man. He comes down to the pitch and gives his assistant coach Mahesh Gawli a big hug. And then attempts to pick up Chhangte as you will a baby.

Penalty shootout, IND 4-2 LBN: India are in the final! Khalil Bader blasts his attempt off goal!

Penalty shootout, IND 4-2 LBN: Udanta steps up. Sabeh, once again, goes left. Udanta goes right and takes India one kick away from the final!

Penalty shootout, IND 3-2 LBN: The bottom right seems to be the way to go as Mohammad Sadek beats GSS.

Penalty shootout, IND 3-1 LBN: Sabeh once again goes left only to see Mahesh place the ball in the right corner.

Penalty shootout, IND 2-1 LBN: Walid Shour goes right and so does GSS. But the shot is just too strong for Gurpreet.

Penalty shootout, IND 2-0 LBN: Anwar Ali steps up to take India’s second penalty. A slow run-up before he sends Sabeh the wrong way and deposits the ball into the right bottom corner.

Penalty shootout, IND 1-0 LBN: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu!!! Superb save low to his left to deny the Lebanese captain Maatouk!

Penalty shootout, IND 1-0 LBN: Sabeh goes the right way but Chhetri’s penalty is perfectly placed and India lead.

IND 0-0 LBN: India and Sunil Chhetri will take the first penalty in the shootout

FT, IND 0-0 LBN: Penalty shootout! Nothing to separate either sides after 120 minutes of scrappy football

121’, IND 0-0 LBN: Lebanon making multiple changes for the shootout including switching their keepers. Khalil comes off for Ali Sabeh.

119’, IND 0-0 LBN: Chhangte and Udanta nearly making me eat my words there. Udanta slips in Chhangte. His low shot, however, is booted away by Khalil.

119’, IND 0-0 LBN: Don’t think we’ll see a goal from either side tonight. Penalty shootouts, here we come!

113’, IND 0-0 LBN: Superb run from Udanta! Manages to keep the ball away from a couple of defenders and gets into the box. Delays getting the shot away allowing a Lebanon player to slide in and block his shot.

111’, IND 0-0 LBN: George Melki gets a crucial touch to deflect Mahesh’s low cross into the side net.

108’, IND 0-0 LBN: Khalil Bader inches wide from giving Lebanon the lead! Gets the ball outside the box on the left. He takes a touch before unleashing a curler which evades a diving GSS and also fortunately for India, the upright.

106’, IND 0-0 LBN: We’re into the final 15 minutes of the match now. Lebanon win a free-kick in a promising position as Anwar Ali fouls Darwich. Maatouk’s delivery is a poor one.

HT in ET, IND 0-0 LBN: Half-time in extra time here. That half belonged to India as they came close multiple times to take the lead.

105’, IND 0-0 LBN: Three minutes added on as the Kanteerava crowd chant ‘Attack, attack.’

104’, IND 0-0 LBN: Another chance goes begging as Chhetri sends his header wide from a Mishra cross.

102’, IND 0-0 LBN: It’s all India at the moment. Chhangte puts in a cross from the left after a corner kick. But the ball is just too far for Mehtab at the far post. A minute later, India spring on the counter with Mahesh on the right. He looks to curl a cross in behind the Lebanon defence but somehow shoots it straight at goal for Khalil to make a simple save.

100’, IND 0-0 LBN: India cranking up the pressure now. Udanta, who has been very good since coming on, puts in another good cross from the right. Khalil comes out to deal with it, misses it. Chhangte goes for the loose ball but is denied by Khalil

95’, IND 0-0 LBN: Chhetri misses a sitter and the Indian captain knew he shanked it as soon as the ball left his boot. Udanta does really well on the right dummying thrice to shake off his marker. His low cross falls straight to Chhetri, who from six yards out, scoops his shot over the bar.

91’, IND 0-0 LBN: The first half in extra time gets underway with India attacking straightaway down the left. Zein goes down with cramps.

FT, IND 0-0 LBN: The referee whistles for full time. Nothing separates the two sides in 90 minutes. We’ll need 30 minutes of more football to decide the winner here.

90+5’, IND 0-0 LBN: Karim Darwich is furious after being shown a yellow card for a sliding tackle on Chhangte. The Lebanon striker was justified in his anger as replays showed that he had completely missed Chhangte with his tackle.

90+2’, IND 0-0 LBN: Akash Mishra steams down the left and rides Zein’s challenge. He still carries on but goes down five strides later. India unable to create anything from the free-kick.

90’, IND 0-0 LBN: India make another change as Kuruniyan is replaces by Udanta Singh. Five minutes added on.

88’, IND 0-0 LBN: India almost snatch it late! Mahesh’s corner kick loops off of Zein onto his own crossbar! Mehid Khalil was beaten.

83’, IND 0-0 LBN: Maatouk misses a good chance! Farran does well to hold up the ball and waits for Maatouk’s run. The Lebanon captain has only GSS to beat but scoops his shot over goal. India escape.

79’, IND 0-0 LBN: India break on the counter with Akash Mishra who feeds the ball to Aashique. With Chhetri and Chhangte waiting, Aashique sends his across well over both his teammates. Chhetri is displeased, to say the least.

71’, IND 0-0 LBN: Lovely from India! Sahal jinxes past his marker and feeds Aashique. With time and space in his hands, Aashique whips in a low cross towards Chhangte but the ball is booted away by a lunging Lebanon defender.

68’, IND 0-0 LBN: Nice flowing move from Lebanon outside the box. Maatouk, unmarked in the right inside the box, cuts the ball across goal. The end product is tame and rolls harmlessly past the post.

66’, IND 0-0 LBN: Farran cuts it from the left, ignores the cries for a pass from Darwich, and tries his luck from range. His curling attempt is nowhere near goal

60’, IND 0-0 LBN: Lebanon come close! Good delivery from the right towards Darwich who has found himself in the free space between Mehtab and Anwar. However, he misjudges the flight of the ball and has to lean backwards to head it. Comfortable save for GSS.

58’, IND 0-0 LBN: A lengthy delay as Hussein Zein goes down with an injury. India make their first change with Nikhil Poojary replacing Pritam Kotal. Zein with a gorgeous ball from deep. Matar gets to it and looks to shoot across GSS but doesn’t get the best of connections.

54’, IND 0-0 LBN: Lebanon playing it safe and take off Markabawi, who has been on the verge of being booked. In comes Karim Darwich.

50’, IND 0-0 LBN: It’s getting feisty now. Bose and Kuruniyan combine well down the left before the latter is brought down by Markabawi. India want a second yellow for Markabawi but the referee is unmoved. Hussein Zein is then showed a yellow card, not sure for what reason.

46’, IND 0-0 LBN: No changes from either side. After the Intercontinental Cup triumph, Chhetri said that Igor Stimac gave the team a tongue lashing at half-time in the final after which they scored twice. No such thing today as Stimac remains suspended.

HT, IND 0-0 LBN: And there goes the whistle for half-time in Bengaluru. India have Gurpreet to thank for keeping them alive in the match. Two big saves to deny Lebanon. India had one big chance but Sahal and Jeakson were unable to put India ahead.

45+4’ IND 0-0 LBN: Thapa catches a stray hand to his face and goes down. Chhetri runs to the referee to urge him to book Markabawi. No dice as the card stays in the referee’s pocket.

44’ IND 0-0 LBN: My word that was a superb save from Gurpreet! Maatouk goes for the top corner and his curling effort looks destined for the top corner until GSS sticks out a hand to push it above goal! Five minutes off added time coming.

40’ IND 0-0 LBN: India pull one out of the training ground. Chhangte plays a pass behind the bevy of bodies in front of goal. Chhetri’s shot is charged down by a defender and India have to go back to rebuild.

39’ IND 0-0 LBN: A coming together between Bose and Farran after the former nicked the ball near the Lebanon touchline and is fouled. A lengthy delay as a Lebanon player gets treated for a knock to the head.

35’ IND 0-0 LBN: Selfish from Chhangte there. India win the ball some 30m away from goal. Chhetri makes a run into the box hoping Chhangte would play him in him. The Indian winger decides to try his luck. Horrible attempt. Balloons over goal.

At the other end, Lebanon get a free-kick. Hassan Maatouk looks to catch GSS short at the near post. Too far for Maatouk to try that as GSS comfortably pouches it.

30’ IND 0-0 LBN: Kotal goes flying into another challenge and he’s lucky to not get booked again. Free-kick to Lebanon near the left corner flag. GSS punches the cross away and as Lebanon look to attack again, one of their player strays into an offside position.

24’ IND 0-0 LBN: Sahal draws a foul and it is a free-kick in a promising position for India. Thapa floats in a cross towards the back post but Bose cannot direct his header onto goal.

20’ IND 0-0 LBN: Pritam Kotal comes close now. Thapa spots the right-back’s run and plays in a glorious cross-field dinker. Kotal wins the battle with his defender but heads in onto the ground and wide.

18’ IND 0-0 LBN: How have India not taken the lead?! Chhetri spots Jeakson’s run from the deep and plays a perfect through ball. Jeakson squares it onto Sahal who side foots it wide. Jeakson should have taken the shot there

13’ IND 0-0 LBN: India are being frustrated here. Anwar, Mehtab and Jeakson exchange the ball between them trying to find an open teammate. Lebanon are maintaining their shape nicely so far not letting Thapa and Sahal too much time on the ball. Aashique tries his luck from distance but sends the ball high into the stands.

8’, IND 0-0 LBN: Superb save from Gurpreet! Zein Farran gets the ball in acres of space in the right of the box. He only has GSS to beat but the Indian keeper saves it with an outstretched right hand.

8’, IND 0-0 LBN: Superb save from Gurpreet! Zein Farran gets the ball in acres of space in the right of the box. He only has GSS to beat but the Indian keeper saves it with an outstretched right hand.

5’, IND 0-0 LBN: A crunching tackle from Kotal on Matar. The Indian right back is furious as a foul is given against him. Kotal lucky not to get a yellow card for that.

1’, IND 0-0 LBN: Kickoff and Lebanon nearly take the lead! Melki’s cross from the right is shanked well above the goal by Nader Matar.

India vs Lebanon: Sunil Chhetri leads the Indian team out and blows a kiss to the fans in West Block. Time for the national anthems

India vs Lebanon: Igor Stimac makes five changes to the squad that faced Kuwait in the last match. Gurpreet, Pritam Kotal, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh and Sahal Abdul Samad come into the squad. Sunil Chhetri, as always, leads the attack.

Hello and welcome to Scroll’s live coverage Indian football.

India take on Lebanon in the semi-final of the 2023 SAFF Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. It is the third time these two sides are facing each other over the fortnight.

They played out a 0-0 draw in the group stage of the Intercontinental Cup before India beat Lebanon 2-0 in the final. Whoever wins tonight will face Kuwait in the final on Tuesday.

Screenshots in the blog courtesy: Fancode

Match live: Fancode in India