SAFF Championship: India Beat Lebanon 4-2 In Penalty Shootout To Enter Final
| India’s captain Sunil Chhetri (left) and Lebanon’s captain Hassan Maatouk (right) exchange jerseys after the SAFF semifinal match on Friday |
India and Lebanon faced each other in the semifinal of the SAFF Championship 2023 on Friday, in a match that featured two of the best footballers in Asia: Sunil Chhetri and Hassan Maatouk. Both players are the captains, the all-time top goalscorers, and the most-capped players of their respective national teams. Both players have also won several individual and team awards, and have led their countries to historic achievements in international football.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes and extra time, and India prevailed 4-2 in the penalty shootout. Chhetri scored India’s first goal from the spot in the 18th minute, while Maatouk equalized for Lebanon with a stunning free kick in the 39th minute. In the shootout, Chhetri scored again, while Maatouk missed his penalty, which proved to be decisive.
India will face Nepal in the final on Sunday, who beat Pakistan 2-0 in the other semifinal. India has won the SAFF Championship seven times before, while Nepal is looking for its maiden title. The final will be a rematch of the group stage encounter, which India won 2-0.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the careers and achievements of Sunil Chhetri and Hassan Maatouk, two of the most prolific and influential footballers in Asia.
Sunil Chhetri: India’s Football Icon
Sunil Chhetri is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Indian Super League club Bengaluru and the India national team. He is the third-highest international goalscorer among active players, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and is also the most-capped player and the all-time top goalscorer of the India national team.
Chhetri started his career with Mohun Bagan in 2002, and has since played for several clubs in India and abroad, such as JCT, East Bengal, Dempo, Kansas City Wizards, Churchill Brothers, Sporting CP B, Mumbai City FC, and Bengaluru FC. He has won four Indian Super League titles, three I-League titles, two Federation Cup titles, one Indian Super Cup title, one Durand Cup title, and one AFC Challenge Cup title at club level. He has also won the Lebanese Premier League Golden Boot twice, in 2011 and 2021.
Chhetri made his international debut for India in 2005, and has since scored 77 goals in 126 appearances for his country. He has helped India win the 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup, as well as the 2011, 2015, and 2021 SAFF Championship. He has also helped India win the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which qualified them to their first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years. He scored twice in the final tournament in 2011.
Chhetri has won the AIFF Player of the Year award a record seven times in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018–19 and 2021–22. He also received the Arjuna Award in 2011, the Padma Shri award in 2019, and the Khel Ratna Award in 2021, India’s highest sporting honor. He is widely regarded as one of the best players ever to play for India, and as an inspiration for many young footballers in the country.
Hassan Maatouk: Lebanon’s Football Star
Hassan Maatouk is a Lebanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Lebanese Premier League club Ansar and captains the Lebanon national team. Known for his pace and technical skills, Maatouk is Lebanon’s all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player; he became a key part of the national team as their captain since 2016.
Maatouk started his career with Safa in 2006, and has since played for several clubs in Lebanon and abroad, such as Al Ahed, Nejmeh SC (on loan), Al Ain FC (on loan), Ajman Club (on loan), Emirates Club (on loan), Al-Fujairah SC (on loan), Al-Ansar SC (on loan), Al-Nasr Dubai SC (on loan), Al-Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC (on loan), Al-Arabi SC (on loan), Al-Dhafra SCC (on loan), Al-Nasr SC (on loan), and Al-Ansar FC. He has won two Lebanese Premier League titles, one Lebanese FA Cup title, one Lebanese Super Cup title, and one Lebanese Elite Cup title at club level. He has also scored 56 goals in 110 games for Fujairah, becoming the club’s all-time top goalscorer.
Maatouk made his international debut for Lebanon in 2006, and has since scored 23 goals in 84 appearances for his country. He has helped Lebanon qualify for their first AFC Asian Cup through qualification in 2019, scoring five goals in six matches in the third round of qualification. He also helped Lebanon reach their highest FIFA ranking of 77th in September 2018. He has scored more goals against North Korea and Thailand than any other team, with three goals against them.
Maatouk was nominated Best Player of the Lebanese Premier League in 2010 and 2011, an accomplishment which he won twice more with Nejmeh in 2018 and 2019. Maatouk was also included in the Team of the Year those four years. He is widely regarded as one of the best players ever to play for Lebanon, and as a leader and a role model for many young footballers in the country.
Conclusion
Sunil Chhetri and Hassan Maatouk are two of the most successful and influential footballers in Asia, who have achieved remarkable feats for their clubs and countries. They have also shown great respect and admiration for each other, as they exchanged jerseys after the semifinal match on Friday.
Both players will be hoping to lift the SAFF Championship trophy on Sunday, as India and Nepal clash in the final. It will be a historic occasion for both teams, as India aims to win their eighth title, while Nepal seeks their first. It will also be a showcase of two of the finest talents in Asian football, who have inspired millions of fans with their skills and passion.
Who do you think will win the final? Who do you think is the better player: Chhetri or Maatouk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! 😊
