INDIA TEAM - INTERCONTINENTAL CUP - 2023
INDIA WIN INTERCONTINENTAL CUP 2023
FINAL MATCH
18.06.2023 : INDIA 2-0 LEBANON (FT)
IND: SUNIL CHETRI (46'), LALRINZUALA CHHANGTE (65')
IND: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu,Nikhil Poojary (Subhasish Bose), Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Sahal Abdul Samad (Rahim Ali), Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jwakson Singh (Rohit Kumar) Ashique Kuruniyan (Mahesh Singh), Sunil Chhetri (NandhaKumar Sekar).
LEB: Ali Sabeh, Md El Hayak, Hussain Zein, Md Ali Dhawani, Ali Tneich (Hassan Kourani), Al Farran (Ali Markawabi), Walid Chour, Nader Mater (Mahdi Zein), Hassan Saad, Karim Darwitch, Hassan Matouck.
REFEREE: Virendra Rai (BHUTAN)
18.06.2023: India won the Intercontinental Cup 2023, defeating Lebanon by a brace. India had a dominating performance all through the match did not allow the Lebanon to settle down. After a goalless first session India drew the first blood just after the half time. A pass inside the danger area by Lalrinzuala Chhangte was placed by captain Sunil Chetri at the 46th minute to give India 1-0 lead.
India scored the second goal at the 65th minute of the match as a powerful shot by substitute Naoram Mahesh Singh was partially saved by the Lebanon goalkeeper Ali Sebia and on rushing Lalrinzwala Chhangte placed the ball in almost empty goal. India had some close chances at the second session, could have increased the lead. Mahesh Singh was bit unlucky when his header of a cross pass from Aniruddh Thapa was saved by Ali Sebia.
LEBANON IS AN EXPERIENCED AND GOOD TECHNICAL TEAM: IGOR STIMAC
17.03. 2023: India to play against Lebanon in the final of Hero Intercontinental Cup on Sunday evening at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
India had clinched the inaugural tournament in 2018, beating Kenya 2-0 in Mumbai. However, the hosts ended up in last place in the previous edition in Ahmedabad in 2019, which was won by DPR Korea. The return of the competition after four years in Bhubaneswar has also marked the first time the Blue Tigers have come to play in an international tournament in the Odisha capital. Now, only 90 minutes, or possibly 120 and penalties, against a tough Lebanon side stand between Igor Stimac's men and the trophy.
In the pre match press conference, Indian Head coach Igor Stimac said, “It could've been a nice win. It didn't happen, but this is the way we need to go. Importantly, we are pretty solid as a unit at the back. The goals will come. I would be worried if we were not creating chances, but that hasn't been the case. Our boys are playing with great faith, and we need to keep supporting them so that they keep rising.
Lebanon have 4-5 players with great experience of playing abroad. They are a very technical side with good passing. As a unit, we did well in the previous game and need to do that again tomorrow. They can hurt us with their individual quality, so we can't allow them to come near our goal.”<
The Head coach of Lebanon Aleksandar Ilic while interacting said, “I'm positively surprised about the Indian team. They've done an amazing job over the last ten years, and Indian football looks a lot different now. In this tournament, India have rotated heavily in every game, but the value the players bring to the pitch hasn't changed.
The majority of our squad is young and does not have a lot of international experience at the senior level, so I am really proud of my players for making it to the final. We want to make history for Lebanon as we are going to play a final game after 59 years.”
MATCH : 6
15.06.2023 : INDIA 0-0 LEBANON (FT)
IND: Amrinder Singh (GK), Nikhil Poojary (Rahul Bheke 81'), Sandesh Jhingan (C), Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad (Naorem Mahesh Singh 72'), Udanta Singh (Sunil Chhetri 81'), Ashique Kuruniyan (Rahim Ali 59'), Lallianzuala Chhangte.
MATCH : 5
15.06.2023 : MONGOLIA 0-1 VANAUTU (FT)
VAN : Gantogtokh Gantuya (og-46')
MATCH 4
12.06.2023 : INDIA 1-0 VANAUTU (FT)
IND: SUNIL CHHETRI (79')
IND: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Mehtab Singh, Subhasish Bose, Liston Colaco(Sahal Abdul Samad), Rowlin Borges(Aniruddh Thapa), Rohit Kumar(Jeakson Singh), Mahesh Singh, Nandhakumar Sekar(lalrinzuala Chhangte), Sunil Chetri (Rahim Ali).
VUT: Massing Kalotang, Brian Kaltack,Messeck Boulet, Cladu Aru, Jason Thomas, John Well, Jonathan Jack, Michel Coulon, Godin Thene,Alex Saniel, Azaria Soromon.
REFEREE: VIRENDRA RAI (BHUTAN)
MATCH : 3
12.06.2023 : MONGOLIA 0-0 LEBANON (FT)
MATCH : 2
09.06.2023 : INDIA 2-0 MONGOLIA (FT)
IND SAHAL ABDUL SAMAD(2'), LALRINZUALA CHHANGTE(14')
IND : Amrinder Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali (Mehtab Singh), Akash Mishra, Apuia Ralte, Aniruddh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad (Rohit Kumar), Lalrinzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chetri (Rahim Ali), Udanta Singh (Naorem Mahesh Singh).
MNG : Enkhtaivan, P Bayartsengal, Gerelt-OD, T Baasanjav, G Ganbayar, B Batmunkh, Tsend-Ayush, B Namsrai, Munkh-Orgil, B Baljinnyam, A Dulguun.
MATCH : 1
09.06.2023 : LEBANON 3-1 VANAUTU (FT)
LEB: Nader Matar(59'), Hassan Kourani (72'), Karim Darwich(85')
VAN: John Wohale (65')
WE NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY READY TO MEET THE CHALLANGE: IGOR STIMAC
8.6.23: India to start their campaign in the Continental Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar against Mongolia on Friday evening. This will be the first instance when an Indian side will face Mongolia in any type of competition.
In the pre match press conference the Indian Head coach Igor Stimac said: "We're expecting to win the tournament, and that's why we're here. We'll do everything possible to make that happen. Although our opponents (in the Hero Intercontinental Cup) are not as tough as the teams we'll face in the Asian Cup, they're still good and competitive. Mongolia are a very aggressive side with a lot of young players in midfield and upfront. They press high press and play counter-attacking football. Even though they may find it difficult to adapt to the warm weather here, their players are arriving in competitive form as the Mongolian league is going on at the moment."
Mongolia currently are in the 183rd position in FIFA ranking. While interacting the Japanese coach of Mongolia, Ichiro Otsuka said: "All the other three teams are ranked higher than us. But we will fight and try to have better games against them. We're very motivated to showcase our football here. "Compared to us, the Indian team is very strong. Later this year, we'll have our first round of the World Cup Qualifiers, where we will face higher-ranked teams. So we want to concentrate on defending first. But, of course, we also have some ideas going forward."
