Sunil Chhetri and Lallianzuala Chhangte got on the scoresheet to guide the Blue Tigers to the Intercontinental title win against Lebanon.
India secured victory in the Intercontinental Cup by defeating a resilient young Lebanon team with two goals in the second half at the Kalinga Stadium on Sunday.
In the previous tournament match, India had been held to a goalless draw by Lebanon. The Indian team struggled to break through Lebanon’s solid defense in the unproductive first half, creating a few opportunities but failing to convert them.
India had a strong appeal for a penalty in the sixth minute when Ashique Kuruniyan was tripped by Lebanon defender Hussain Zain inside the Lebanon box. However, the referee waved off the claim, and India continued its pursuit of a goal.
In the 16th minute, Sahal Abdul Samad made an impressive run past a couple of Lebanon defenders and attempted a pass to Chhetri. Unfortunately, the Lebanon defense intercepted the pass.
The momentum shifted in India’s favor in the very first minute of the second half when Chhetri scored his 87th international goal, thanks to excellent coordination between Nikhil Poojary and Chhangte on the right flank. This goal boosted India’s confidence, and they pushed for more to secure the victory.
Incredible assist for the first goal ☑️
Attentive in the box and a calm finish for the second goal ☑️What a second half @lzchhangte7 is having 😍🔥💙
Watch Live on @StarSportsIndia, @DisneyPlusHS and @officialjiotv! 📺#BlueTigers 🐯 #INDLBN ⚔️ #HeroIntercontinentalCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LVMY6wFmLs
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 18, 2023
India extended its lead in the 66th minute when Naoram Mahesh Singh, a substitute introduced by head coach Igor Stimac, received a pass from Chhetri on the left. Singh unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, which was initially blocked by Lebanese goalkeeper Ali Sabeh, but Chhangte was in position to capitalize on the rebound. This second goal proved to be enough to seal India’s win, as their disciplined defense, led by Sandesh Jhingan and Anwar Ali in the center and Nikhil Poojary and Akash Mishra on the flanks, effectively contained Lebanon.
This victory was significant for India, as it ended a 46-year winless streak against Lebanon. India had previously won their first meeting in 1977, with the following six encounters resulting in three draws and three losses for the Indian team. With this triumph in Bhubaneswar, India now shifts its focus to Bengaluru, where they will begin their next campaign on June 21, aiming to defend their SAFF Championship title.
Result: India 2 (Chhetri 46, Chhangte 66) beat Lebanon 0
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