Sunil Chhetri celebrates after scoring on Sunday. Photo: @IndianFootball
The win would allow India to enter the top 100 in the Fifa rankings for the first time since 2018 and a possible entry in Pot 2 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
More than the margin of their victory, the manner in which India conquered Lebanon 2-0 to win the Intercontinental Cup would have pleased coach Igor Stimac on Sunday.
The manner in which he hugged those he substituted in the second half, including captain Sunil Chhetri who scored his 87th international goal to give India the lead on 46 minutes and Lallianzuala Chhangte, who set up the first and netted the second in the 66th, was proof enough that he was satisfied with what he saw at the sweltering heat of the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
India won the tournament without conceding once in four matches, it ensured that they recaptured the Intercontinental Cup after five years. But more importantly it would allow India to enter the top 100 in Fifa rankings for the first time since 2018 and a possible entry in Pot 2 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The 101st-ranked home team were more hungry and determined to notch up their first win over the 99-ranked Lebanon since 1977 and wanted to land an early blow, starting at a brisk pace, lobbying balls towards Aashique Kuruniyan.
India’s ploy was to utilise the left winger’s pace and his understanding with Sahal Abdul Samad and Sunil Chhetri. Danger moments were created inside Lebanon’s penalty box with Sahal dancing his way into the box but it didn’t quite lead to a clear sight at goal.
Lallianzuala Chhangte exults with his team-mates after scoring. Photo: @IndianFootball
The pace of the game demanded swifter movements and greater physical exertion from the players, which contributed to Lebanon defender Mohammad El Hayak pulling a muscle and getting subbed off.
As minutes ticked, Lebanon gradually found their feet, with their captain Hassan Maatouk building their moves, spraying the ball to their speedy right winger Al Farran.
By the time the first cooling break was taken in the 30th minute, the pace of action had dropped significantly.
It suited the 35-year-old Maatouk who found substitute Mahdi Zein in a favourable position inside the box though not materialised from the move.
Unable to go past the physical defending of Sandesh Jhingan, Lebanon were also ready to test Gurpreet Singh from distance.
India needed greater intensity after the break after seeing their moves peter out towards the end of the first 45 minutes.
And what better way than goal to get that kick. Moments after play resumed, a fluent move put India ahead.
Right back Nikhil Poojary’s heel allowed Chhangte, anonymous till then, to showcase his quick feet, burst into the area through the right channel to square it for an ever-alert Chhetri, who ghosted ahead of his marker and tapped it in.
India would have their captain #SunilChhetri back in the starting XI for the final vs Lebanon#IndianFootball @IndianFootball @stimac_igor #IntercontinentalCup #INDLBNhttps://t.co/29GDWF2g2y
— Sayan Mukherjee (@SayanMukherjee4) June 17, 2023
It fired up the Indians, forcing Lebanon coach Aleksandar Ilic into two changes in order to add more muscle into their midfield.
His Indian counterpart Stimac responded by bringing on Naorem Mahesh Singh and Rohit Kumar in place of Aashique and Jeakson Singh respectively.
It worked like a dream for Stimac as Mahesh’s left footer stung Lebanon keeper Ali Sabeh’s fingers and fell kidly into the fath of an advancing Chhangte for a tap-in of his own.
It was the insurance goal that India craved and even though Maatouk was left unmarked inside the box before the second goal, after it, Jhingan’s presence proved immense.
Still, Lebanon got their best chance on 81 minutes, when Maatouk got ahead of Jhingan inside the six yards but his attempted jab to Mahdi Zein’s low cross sailed over.
With it Lebanon’s hopes evaporated as India managed the dying minutes without any further hiccup, though they could have added at least another goal of their own.
