The 2023 SAFF Championship final was the final match of the 2023 SAFF Championship. It took place on 4 July 2023 at the Bangalore, Karnataka.[1][2] It was announced that the matches during the tournament, including the final, would take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. India defeated Kuwait on penalty-shootouts after the match ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time.[3][4]
Venue
On 19 March 2023, it was announced that the matches during the tournament, including the final, would take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka.[5]
| Bangalore | |
|---|---|
| Sree Kanteerava Stadium | |
| 12°58′10.92″N 77°35′36.24″E / 12.9697000°N 77.5934000°E | |
| Capacity: 25,810 | |
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Route to the final
Kuwait played their first match against Nepal and won it 3–1.[6] In their second game of the group stage they defeated Pakistan 4–0.[7] Kuwait’s last outing was against hosts India with the match ending in a 1–1 draw.[8] The opponent for Kuwait in semi-final was Bangladesh, whom they defeated by a narrow margin of 1–0 in the extra time.[9][10]
The Hosts started their campaign against Pakistan with a resounding 4–0 win.[11] Sunil Chhetri scored his fourth international hat-trick and Udanta Singh scored the fourth goal.[12] In the next match they saw of Nepal by 2–0 and the final match of the group stage against Kuwait resulted in a 1–1 stalemate.[13][14] In the semi-final India locked horns with Lebanon and won on penalty shootout after the game ended in a goal less draw.[15]
 Kuwait
|
Round |  India
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| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Nepal
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1–3 | Match 1 |  Pakistan
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0–4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pakistan
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0–4 | Match 2 | Nepal
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0–2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| India
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1–1 | Match 3 | Kuwait
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1–1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Final standings |
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| Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bangladesh
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0–1 (a.e.t.) | Semi-finals |  Lebanon
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0–0 (2–4 p) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Match
          Kuwait
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    India
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Assistant referees:
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Match rules
- 90 minutes
- 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
- Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
- Maximum of fifteen named substitutes
- Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time[note 1]
- Maximum of one concussion substitution
See also
| Men’s | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-16 Championship | U-19 Championship | Senior Championship (Final) | |||
| Women’s | |||||
| U-17 Championship | U-20 Championship | ||||
Notes
- ^ Igor Stimac was suspended so his assistant coach Mahesh Gawli took charge for this match.[17]
- ^ Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
References
- ^ “Bashundhara Toiletries Limited becomes title sponsor of SAFF Championship 2023”. daily-sun.com. 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ Chatterjee, Triyasha (15 May 2023). “SAFF Championship 2023 Draw on May 17, Indian Football Team eye consecutive titles – Follow SAFF 2023 LIVE”. www.insidesport.in. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ “SAFF Championship 2021 Final: India defeats Nepal 3-0 to lift title for the eighth time”. Sportstar. The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 16 October 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Rawat, Akhil (5 July 2023). “Double, double toil and treble: Blue Tigers bask in SAFF C’ship glory”. AIFF. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ “Bengaluru to host 2023 SAFF Championship”. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ “Kuwait dominates Nepal with a 3-1 victory in SAFF Championship 2023”.
- ^ “SAFF Championship: Pakistan Get Thrashed by Kuwait 4-0 in One-sided Contest”.
- ^ “SAFF Championship 2023: Anwar Ali’s own goal cancels Sunil Chhetri strike as India draw with Kuwait”.
- ^ “Bangladesh’s Saff dream shattered after 1-0 defeat to Kuwait in semifinal”.
- ^ “We deserved to win: Cabrera”.
- ^ Duerden, John (26 June 2023). “India v Pakistan is not a classic football rivalry. But it could be”. The Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ Rawat, Akhil (21 June 2023). “A Diamond is Forever: Super Sunil’s hat-trick sinks Pakistan”. AIFF. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ “India downs Nepal 2-0 to enter SAFF Championship 2023 semifinals”.
- ^ “SAFF Championship 2023: Anwar Ali’s own goal cancels Sunil Chhetri strike as India draw with Kuwait”.
- ^ “SAFF Championship: India beat Lebanon on penalties, enter final”.
- ^ “India vs Kuwait 2023”.
- ^ “SAFF Championship: Gawli expects tough final against Kuwait”.