India vs Kuwait, SAFF Championship Final Highlights: IND win 9th title, beat KUW on penalties in thrilling final

"Thank you so much. This whole tournament has been really tough. We came back from a tournament in Odissa that was also very tough. Everybody chipped in. They are not an easy side to play agains. Two games in four days that has gone into extra time. I can't express how happy I am."

“First of all I would like to say thanks to the fans. This is their night, this win is for you. About the game I am just so happy I need to go…” he says as he runs towards his team who have come together for a photograph. 

“We did really well, all the credit to the boys for not giving up despite going one goal down. THat was when we were weakest. We got the equaliser. Kuwait then tried to hang on and win the game on penalties but once it goes there it is anyone's game.”

Chhetri goes around the ground applauding the fans while Sandhu leads a thunderclap routine. Then the players take Chhetri on their shoulders and celeberate with the fans. Igor Stimac makes his way into the team huddle by then and he is lifted and thrown up in the air by the team. A humdinger of a final has ended in India's favour. There were periods in which Kuwait looked like they were gaining control of the match but India kept coming back, kept cancelling out their advantages. In the end, Sandhu's blinder of a save is what has won them the title. His save got them to the final, and his save got them the title as well. Incredible. 

Hajiah goes to the right, Sandhu goes the right way again and this time, he makes the save. Cue pandemonium, the stands explode, India have prevailed in the most nail-biting of all penalty shootouts. 

Mahesh Naorem steps up and converts. Onto the Kuwait captain Khaled Hajiah now. 

AlKhaldi keeps Kuwait in it, Gurpreet goes the correct way again but the kick is well directed. Sudden death now, the team that misses, loses. 

Subhashish steps up and lasers it into the top right corner.

Mahran converts and so after four kicks, it is all square between the two sides. This match refuses to die down. 

Oh Udanta Singh has put it over the bar! Kuwait can equalise if they score here.

Aldhefeery makes no mistake with his kick, puts it past Gurpreet who went the right way.

Chhangte takes the next one and converts as well. Hit to the keeper's left, Marzouq goes the wrong way.

Alotaibi steps up and opens the account for Kuwait. Hit it to Gurpreet's left, the goalkeeper went the right way but the ball went past him. 

Sandesh Jhingan converts the second kick and then has a long word with Sandhu. As calm as you like from the Indian centre back.

Mohammad Abdullah hits the bar! Absolute scenes in Bengaluru!

Into the right hand pole and Marzouq goes the wrong way. India lead!

Captain, leader and legend Sunil Chhetri steps up to the spot, here we go!

Onto penalties we go! Five kicks each and then sudden death, remember. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Abdulrahman Marzouq take centre stage now. Sandhu had pushed India through against Lebanon with some virtuoso goalkeeping…

Gurpreet takes a long goal kick that is gathered by his opposite number Marzouq at the other end. This will need penalties to be decided. 

118 mins: Poojary somehow makes his way down to the right byline, puts in the cross. It bounces to Chhangte whose shote goes over the bar.

A move from India fizzles out after Udanta's pass to Chhetri at the edge of the box goes behind the Indian captain. Kuwait keep possession before an overhit through ball ends that passage of play as well. 

He can't continue and Subhashish Bose takes his place for the remainder of the game. 

It has all quietened down now with Aakash Mishra down on the ground needing medical attention. The last piece of real action in the 107th minute with Mehtab blocking a shot from Alotaibi. 

Kuwait get us underway in Bengaluru. Are we going to see a winner in this period? 

The players limber back to their dugouts as the ref blows his whistle to mark the end of the first period of extra time. Nothing in it so far, and dare say that this looks like a deadlock that can only be broken with penalties.