'The penalties & the save" - Twitter explodes in joy as India qualify for SAFF Championship 2023 final

By Alen Philip Mathew

Alen Philip Mathew has been a correspondent for Kerala Blasters, covering Indian football and Indian Super League for Khel Now since 2021.

Published at :July 2, 2023 at 6:09 AM

Modified at :July 2, 2023 at 6:28 PM

'The penalties & the save" - Twitter explodes in joy as India qualify for SAFF Championship 2023 final

India defeated Lebanon for a second time this year, but this time in the SAFF Championship.

In a thrilling semi-final match of the SAFF Championship 2023, Team India emerged victorious against Lebanon, winning the penalty shootout by 4-2. The victory not only secured India's place in the final of the tournament but also propelled them to Pot 2 of the World Cup Qualifiers. Twitter erupted with joy as fans flooded the platform, expressing their happiness, appreciation, and support for the Indian team.

https://youtu.be/LabK5xbuecQ

Twitter was flooded with congratulatory messages as Indian football fans expressed their delight and support for the national team. Many fans hailed the team's unity and hard work, acknowledging the collective effort of the players and coaching staff.

https://twitter.com/Divyans63560546/status/1675189764553621505?t=3_03AbhT3tca5YXB9gEFYQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/sainiaman038/status/1675190363475300352?t=I0GUs_qfhQIPEWoHlc0YIQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/Harii33/status/1675190703922749440?t=0BaTWlbLMtUrqV0Lsvr0lg&s=19

Praise for Gurpreet and Chhetri

One of the standout moments of the match came during the penalty shootout when goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a brilliant save, giving India the lead. Fans were quick to laud Gurpreet for his exceptional performance.

https://twitter.com/truthserum07/status/1675187008195690496?t=kltnX0xqEWxXAiN9BKWc0A&s=19

https://twitter.com/rishumukherjee/status/1675187492813955072?t=En5X5bgCLVZa3DWC1HnHvw&s=19

https://twitter.com/PriyaBiswas092/status/1675187528356483072?t=lsecxcRIOUK4r0VJRMJ81w&s=19

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri was lauded for his exceptional performance in the match. Fans expressed their admiration for his leadership skills and crucial contributions to the team's success.

https://twitter.com/PrashantRapper/status/1675187500657131521?t=FIKNw_K-zw3zdtKmMRd7TA&s=19

https://twitter.com/balachandarT17/status/1675190307913359361?t=v7KHmuOm5PuQPBJGDEjYdg&s=19

https://twitter.com/rishabpavi/status/1675190688873422849?t=Te3qRFxtgHWbQae82EKlgQ&s=19

Areas for improvement

While celebrating the victory, some fans acknowledged that there was room for improvement, particularly in the finishing department.

https://twitter.com/Harshit08i/status/1675188347244003329?t=-qK72xOoM1ln-v1WrOGfwg&s=19

https://twitter.com/bikaspal/status/1675190668447334401?t=vK4nem0sRcwfIQTyGE1P_Q&s=19

Acknowledging Lebanon's Performance

Amidst the celebration, Indian fans also showed sportsmanship by recognizing Lebanon's impressive game. Some tweets praised the opponents for their strong performance, acknowledging the tough fight they put up. One tweet stated:

https://twitter.com/Niraj_patil_07/status/1675190084927356929?t=hwQ9UdEpFdaqjBuS7HneEg&s=19

The excitement and anticipation for the SAFF Championship 2023 final is palpable on Twitter. Fans are eagerly looking forward to the match and will express their unwavering support for Team India, like they have done in the past.

Alen Philip Mathew

Football journalist with years of expertise covering Indian football, particularly Kerala Blasters and the Indian Super League. Alongside his passion for sports, he is a dedicated medical student. Alen specializes in match analysis, player interviews, and community reactions.